Don't Be Scrooged: Wage & Hour Tips To Help Employers Avoid Holiday Party Humbug

Employers across the country are in the midst of planning, decorating, and reveling in good cheer as they prepare to enjoy — or perhaps already did enjoy — an office holiday party.

While most employment attorneys and human resources professionals appreciate the potential morale-building of office holiday parties — and do not want to be viewed as Scrooge-like objectors to festivities — they also bear in mind the potential legal issues such parties raise.  Perhaps most obviously, alcohol, especially if provided without limitation, can lead to employee DUIs and tort claims, as well as reduced inhibitions that might engender harassment claims.  Whether employees must be paid for attendance is another such issue, although not one that has received much attention.  We summarize below a few wage-and-hour considerations relevant to this issue.

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