HealthLawProf Blog informs us that it is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. That’s a good cue to remind employers that they need to be mindful of their risk exposure when planning holiday parties. Off-premise and extra-curricular activities may pose either workers compensation or liability exposure when employees attend company-sponsored events. Employers should have worker health & safety a foremost consideration in any holiday party planning — not to mention the safety and well-being of fellow travelers on the road.
Many of our favorite blogs have been discussing this topic. For a cautionary and sobering tale, read Carole Matthews post at Inc. Magazine’s weblog about a real life tragedy that occurred at her Dad’s company party. Carole points us to Nine Tips for Office Celebrations from the DOL. Another good resource is the article Top Ten Ways To Hold A Company Party (Without Getting Sued) (pdf) written by attorneys at Fisher & Phillips. (Thanks to Michael at George’s Employment Blawg for the pointer.)
Other resources:
How to avoid disasters at office holiday parties
Keeping your company