You’re the Expert: Our employees asked us to sponsor a softball team. What issues can arise?

A group of our employees has asked us to sponsor a softball team this spring. Management is all for it, but asked me to dig a bit into what problems might arise. Can you help? Are there workers’ comp issues? Liability if someone gets hurt? And what about alcohol?

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Here’s what you had to say:

Check your workers’ compensation policy, and other corporate insurance, to see what sort of coverage they will provide. If desired, add a rider or purchase a policy to be sure that there is coverage.

• Some of the factors that might be considered in determining your liability if there are problems are:
  • How heavily is the company involved in organizing and outfitting the team?

     

  • Does the company derive benefits from the team?
  • Are employees required to attend games?
  • Are games played on company property?
  • Are games played on company time?
• We had a problem with harassment at our games in a local park. One of our employees was following other employees home and harassing them. We intervened before it got violent, but we learned a lesson: We have to watch what’s happening. If we see a problem developing, since we can’t order the off-duty offender to leave a public park, we have to stay in these situations until they are resolved.
• Problems we had arose from the consumption of alcohol. We have an agreement that our team members may not drink during the games—and fortunately, the coach agrees and enforces the rule—but the games are held in public parks that do not prohibit drinking, so it’s impossible to control drinking in the crowd. We’ve made sure that there is a police presence at the games, and if spectators get out of control, it’s a police matter. For sure, don’t be the provider of alcohol or provide the funds for its purchase.