Vicarious Liability
The potential legal responsibility of one party for actions that cause harm, even if they aren’t the party that directly caused the harm
What is Vicarious Liability?
Vicarious liability is a legal term used to explain the legal responsibility one party may hold for actions that cause harm, even if they aren’t the party that directly caused the harm. Also sometimes referred to as imputed liability, vicarious liability states that any party who is in an authoritative legal relationship with another party is legally responsible if their actions cause harm to the other party.
Vicarious Liability in the Workplace
One of the most common examples where vicarious liability comes into play is in the workplace. The company – the employer – is vicariously liable for the actions, words, and deeds of its employees, specifically when the actions, words, or deeds are conducted in the name of, or on behalf of, the company. This is true when the company or one of its employees either intentionally or unintentionally causes harm. Harm could be done to a fellow worker/employee, a client, or even a collaborative company and its employees.
Employers are often unaware that they can be held liable for the actions of one or more of their employees. Even if the employee is held directly responsible for the actions that cause harm, the employer may be found vicariously liable as well.
Unless there is undeniable proof that the employee(s) acted without the knowledge or consent of the employer, or that the negligent behavior was done outside of the employee’s terms of employment with the employer, the employer can be, and often is, found vicariously liable.
Examples of Vicarious Liability Offenses
There are a variety of actions/behaviors that can cause harm and that an employer could be held vicariously liable for. They include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Breach of copyright
- Libel
- Harassment (sexual or otherwise)
- Slander
- Breach of confidentiality
- Bullying
- Physical abuse/causing of bodily harm
- Mental abuse
Third-Party Offenses and Gray Areas of Vicarious Liability
A significant amount of gray area exists surrounding what constitutes “harm.” In certain instances, actions may be taken that cause harm to the clients or customers of a company. Third-party vicarious liability can occur if it can be proven that a client or customer was caused harm in the name of, on behalf of, or under direction from, the company in question.
It’s important to note that an employer can still be found vicariously liable for an employee’s actions even after the departure of the offending employee. There’s also a substantial amount of gray area surrounding when vicarious liability should, and does, end.
Why Vicarious Liability Exists
Vicarious liability exists outside of the employee/employer relationship, including in areas such as the medical field and business partnerships. On a much smaller scale, someone who owns a vehicle is vicariously liable for the actions of any individual whom they permit to operate their vehicle.
The fact is that vicarious liability is designed to keep individuals and larger parties accountable and make sure that someone or some entity is held responsible for harm caused to the innocent. The reality is that vicarious liability – and all the gray areas within it – can lead to sometimes frivolous, ridiculous, and unfair legal actions against employers, companies, or relatively innocent or unknowing parties.
Additional Resources
CFI is the official provider of the Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst (FMVA)™ certification program, designed to transform anyone into a world-class financial analyst.
To keep learning and developing your knowledge of financial analysis, we highly recommend the additional CFI resources below:
