When Good Times Turn Bad: Employer Liability for Social Situations, Office Parties and After-Work Hospitality

“Work-related” interactions and events are a growing liability issue for employers. Office parties, conferences, travel status behaviors, happy hours and off the job socializing are increasingly the genesis for claims of sexual harassment, and a myriad of other cases. Corporate acquisitions and executive hiring contracts now include the “Weinstein Clause,” covering any discovery of executive or board members’ past on or off-work sexual and social improprieties. Employee behaviors at the conference hospitality suite or the after work “watering hole” end up in court and the front pages. Office parties have ended up in court on issues of drunken driving, assault and battery, sexual harassment, racial and even religious discrimination. There have even been findings of personal liability for HR Managers or CEOs. The best way to address these unwanted consequences is not to cancel events or shun friendships and socializing, but to understand what safeguards you can put in place ahead of time in order to minimize the possibility of any unintended consequences.

Please join Bob Gregg for a program that explores “the line” between a good time, friendship and liability. What should you be aware of to protect your company and yourself?

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Just a sampling of what this webinar will cover:

• Understand potential legal risks and liabilities for holiday parties or company events and social situations.
• Principles of risk avoidance when organizing an event.
• Employee’s travel issues.
• Off-job interaction with, or acts against, clients/customers.
• When is happy hour an official meeting?
• Company policies which prevent liability.
• How to respond to those employees who refuse to socialize, participate or claim that an event discriminates against them or their beliefs.
• AND MUCH MORE!

YOUR CONFERENCE LEADER

Your conference leader for “When Good Times Turn Bad: Employer Liability for Social Situations, Office Parties and After-Work Hospitality” is Bob Gregg. Bob chairs the employment practice group with Boardman & Clark Law Firm in Madison, Wisconsin. Mr. Gregg has been involved in employment relations for more than 30 years. He litigates employment cases, representing employers in all areas of employment law.

His main emphasis is helping employers achieve enhanced productivity. He has designed the policies of numerous employers, creating positive work environments and resolving employment problems before they generate lawsuits. Mr. Gregg has conducted more than 3,000 seminars throughout the United States and authored numerous articles on practical employment issues.

He is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, the National Speakers Association, a National Faculty Member of the American Association for Access Equity and Diversity and serves on the board of directors of the Department of Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute Foundation. He received his law degrees (J-D) from West Virginia University.