"Christmas Party"

Sue2

Until this year our company has sponsored a nice holiday party for our employees. Due to a number of reasons we have decided to discontinue the party. I have received a copy of an e-mail sent out by an office employee:
"As some of you already know, some field mployees have planned a Christmas Party for anyone who wants to go. Saturday, Dec 1st, Studebakers. It will cost $25.00 per person - that includes all you can eat finger foods and open bar for 3 hours. ..." This went out via company e-mail to a select group of employees. Your thoughts? Any liability for the company if the party gets out of hand?

stilldazed

Employees are free to plan social or holiday events on their own (unless you have a nonfraternization policy that prohibits such), and invite some and not others.

The fact that your company email was used to send the message has limited bearing on whether your company would be viewed as a sponsor of the event (and thus have liability).

If your company wants to ensure that its position is known, publish something to all workers advising that the party has been cancelled for this year, and give the reasons why. The notice can include that employees continue to be free to plan their own events (again unless your policy prohibits such), at their own costs, but that your company will not endorse any of the events and will offer no resources to help fund or facilitate the events.

Aside from that, if your question has to do with your liability based on personal use of company email, go back to your email policy. Does it state that personal use is forbidden or allowed? Whatever you find in your policy should dictate how you respond to the employees' invitations. The way I read your posting, the invitations are personal, for a personal event, and have been distributed via company email. That may or may not be a violation of your company's email policy--depending on how your policy is written and what your company's tolerance level is.

best wishes,