Is Employer Liable for Worker’s Drunk Driving Death?

ANSWER

D. The company isn’t liable because it had no reason to expect the secretary to drive drunk.

This hypothetical is based on a case in Alberta in which a secretary died in a drunk driving accident after drinking in the workplace. The court explained that employers are only responsible for foreseeable risks of harm. It ruled that her employer had no reason to foresee that she would drive home while drunk and get into an accident. First, the secretary’s boss and other witnesses testified that the secretary didn’t appear intoxicated when they left the workplace. Additionally, the company provided free cab rides home for workers and the secretary knew that this service was available. In fact, she’d used it on other occasions. Therefore, although the gathering violated company policy against drinking in the workplace, the court found the employer had no reason to know she was drunk or that, if she were drunk, she would drive. Thus, because the secretary’s fatal drunk driving accident was unforeseeable, her employer wasn’t liable.

WHY THE WRONG ANSWERS ARE WRONG

A is wrong because the fact a worker got drunk in the workplace doesn’t necessarily mean her employer is liable if she’s subsequently injured. Employers are only responsible for protecting workers from foreseeable injuries and hazards. Here, the secretary didn’t seem intoxicated when the owner left her. And, even if she was already drunk at that time, the owner knew that she was aware that she could get a free cab ride home. Thus, the secretary’s decision to drive home drunk rather than take a cab at no cost to her wasn’t foreseeable.

B is wrong for two reasons. First, although the company’s owner knew the secretary was drinking, when he left, he didn’t have any reason to believe she was intoxicated and thus unable to safely drive. Second, even if she was drunk when he left, he knew that the company provided free cab rides home. And he knew that the secretary knew about the free rides because she’d previously taken advantage of this service. Therefore, even if the owner thought the secretary was drunk when he went home, he knew she wouldn’t need to drive herself home.

C is wrong because, in some circumstances, employers can be liable for injuries suffered by a worker drinking after hours. For example, an employer could be liable if it permits workers to drink at work after hours or supplies alcohol to them, especially if it knows those workers will then have to drive themselves home. Here, however, the company didn’t supply the alcohol for the gathering. And it did provide a way for intoxicated workers to get home without having to drive themselves.

Insider Says: For other cases involving workers who had accidents after drinking at work, see ‘Is Employer Liable for Traffic Accident Caused by Worker Who Drinks at Work”And as the holiday season approaches, you should understand the risks of serving alcohol at your holiday party.