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Einstein2000  
#1 Posted : 22 August 2019 13:46:43(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Einstein2000

Hi

Had a question about employees who might use a company email system to invite other staff to non-company personal events such as walks, social gatherings, etc.

Obviously there are things that would be covered by company policies on email use, etc but from a HSE Liability perspective, could the company be liable if anything went wrong on one of these events that was advertised through an email?

Don't want to be a kill-joy and want to use common sense but just wondered if anyone had any experience in this?

Thanks

Roundtuit  
#2 Posted : 22 August 2019 14:03:04(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Work email is for work purposes. There should be a clearly defined policy on email use. I am trying to envisage how a company would be liable for a privately organised activity between fellow employees and/or others - your first line of defence in the event of a claim would be that the activity is not sanctioned or organised by the employer so no duty is owed.
thanks 6 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
George_Young on 22/08/2019(UTC), Accidentia on 22/08/2019(UTC), Einstein2000 on 23/08/2019(UTC), George_Young on 22/08/2019(UTC), Accidentia on 22/08/2019(UTC), Einstein2000 on 23/08/2019(UTC)
Roundtuit  
#3 Posted : 22 August 2019 14:03:04(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Work email is for work purposes. There should be a clearly defined policy on email use. I am trying to envisage how a company would be liable for a privately organised activity between fellow employees and/or others - your first line of defence in the event of a claim would be that the activity is not sanctioned or organised by the employer so no duty is owed.
thanks 6 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
George_Young on 22/08/2019(UTC), Accidentia on 22/08/2019(UTC), Einstein2000 on 23/08/2019(UTC), George_Young on 22/08/2019(UTC), Accidentia on 22/08/2019(UTC), Einstein2000 on 23/08/2019(UTC)
stevedm  
#4 Posted : 27 August 2019 07:14:47(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
stevedm

This is just the same as posting flyers on the company notice board...so email policy aside...there is no vicarious link here...the employee is not carrying out an activity that is directly linked to the company or thier job role...or is it?

thanks 1 user thanked stevedm for this useful post.
A Kurdziel on 02/09/2019(UTC)
Hsquared14  
#5 Posted : 27 August 2019 10:14:52(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Hsquared14

What your employees get up to in their personal time is not really any business of yours.  I can't see how the company could be held liable if a group of friends arranged via email to meet up outside of work could be construed as the responsibility of your organisation. In the days before email the internal 'phone system would have been used, the only difference is that emails are traceable and your IT people can look at the email accounts. 

RayRapp  
#6 Posted : 27 August 2019 10:43:12(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
RayRapp

In short, no liability, unless it's a company organised event and even then it would be a tenuous link - volenti non fit injuria.

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