No-No-No: Tips for Holiday Parties
Lawyers and clients alike can cut down on potential liability for holiday merrymaking at office events by following a few simple tips.
Among them: hire professional bartenders, arrange for free taxis home and make clear to managers that they are considered on duty at such holiday events and should not attend any after-parties, reports CCH in a brief article about recommendations by the Fisher & Phillips law firm in Chicago. Eliminating mistletoe and adding spouses and significant others to the guest list is also a plus factor for avoiding potential liability.
Although most employers—some 70 percent—opt to serve alcohol at holiday events, this is the source of many difficulties. In addition to taking appropriate precautions to avoid overserving guests, it’s also a good idea to review in advance the employer’s insurance policy, writes Insurance Agents & Brokers of Pennsylvania in a press release. Or, better yet, hold the party at a business that is licensed to serve alcohol.
National Post: “Of all the body parts to Xerox!”
Newsday: “Holiday party time—Watch out for legal liabilities.”
Polk County Business Journal: “Great Office Parties Start with Planning.”
ABA Journal: “The Subtle Art of the Party” (December 2004)
