It’s the season for good cheer, but unfortunately, for many employers around the country, the holiday season can bring with it its own legal headaches. From employee parties and drunk driving, to failure to accommodate religious concerns, there are any numbers of legal pitfalls out there that sensible employers must be aware of.
The office party is the one day of the year when employees get a chance to mingle, and barriers between superiors and subordinates fall. Soon, spirits soar, and employees may find themselves in situations which they would otherwise avoid. For instance, it’s not uncommon to find male employees becoming overly demonstrative when they attempt to share the holiday joy with female coworkers. In the real world, that could lead to charges of sexual harassment that an employer must beware of.
Besides, if your employee consumes alcohol at an office Christmas party or New Year’s bash, and then goes out and causes an accident, then you, as an employer, could likely be held liable for any damages arising out of the accident.
Besides, we tend to forget that Christmas for many Americans, is a religious holiday. There may be church services to attend, and these may not take place on the holiday. That means that employees may expect you to accommodate their religious beliefs and give them time out to attend religious services. It’s not unheard of to have employment lawsuits that claim undue hardship when employers fail to accommodate such religious practices. Safe to say, there are no hard and fast rules for these kinds of requests, and as an employer, you will need to take each case and consider it on its own merits to avoid a lawsuit.
The threat of litigation this holiday season should be all the more reason why you should consult with an asset protection attorney.
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