While holiday parties may be a time-honored tradition for many companies, they present unique challenges that can land careless employers in legal hot water, especially in a year when the #MeToo movement has pushed concerns about workplace sexual harassment to the forefront of public consciousness, attorneys say.
Craig Bonnist of McCarter & English LLP similarly said there are some common-sense ways employers can limit alcohol consumption, including limiting the drink menu to just beer and wine—which eliminates hard liquor that can get people drunk faster—and cutting off drink service about an hour before the party wraps up.
“If you have employees that are younger and drank too much, which often happens, then your liability is not just for [sexual harassment] but somebody may be injured,” Bonnist said, while adding that it may also behoove employers to consider offering transportation options to workers who were drinking to keep them from driving home.
Click to read the full article: “How to Throw a Holiday Party—Without the Legal Hangover”