Who is liable for a company outing?

A company outing is a great way to connect your team, recharge your batteries and enjoy a fun day together. But as with any fun activity, it is important to think about the practicalities beforehand. One of the most frequently asked questions we get at Flitz events get is: “Who is actually liable if something goes wrong during our company outing?”

The basics: employer bears responsibility

The good news is that you are well protected as a participant in a company outing! Based on article 7:658 BW, the employer is often liable in the event of an industrial accident. The employer has a duty of care towards his employees. This means that your employer bears an important responsibility for your safety during the company outing.

But when exactly is a company outing considered 'work'? That depends on various factors that the judge assesses. For a company outing, it is therefore important to determine whether it is part of the employee's duties, for example because the company outing was mandatory.

When are you extra well protected?

There are situations in which your liability protection is extra strong:

• If your company outing is mandatory, or if there is social pressure to participate, you are almost always well protected. Your employer can then be held liable for any damage.
• Even in case of voluntary participation, your employer can be liable. This is especially true if the outing is clearly work-related. Think of team building, training or outings organised by the company itself.
• Even with voluntary activities, your employer has a duty of care. As a good employer, the employer is obliged to take preventive measures, such as taking out insurance.

What does this mean for you as a participant?

In fact, you can just enjoy your company outing to the fullest! The chance that you as an employee will be held personally liable is small, because in most cases your employer bears the responsibility. This applies to both damage that you sustain, and damage that you may cause to others. In the event of an accident during a company outing, your employer may be liable for your medical costs, lost income and other damage.

Damage to third parties during a company outing? The law stipulates that the employer is in principle liable for damage caused by the employee to third parties, if there is sufficient connection with the work (Article 6:170 of the Dutch Civil Code).

Practical tips for a carefree day

To ensure that everyone can enjoy the company outing to the fullest, here are some tips for employers and participants. For employers: make sure you have good liability insurance and inform participants about any risks. A professional event agency such as Flitz-Events can help you with this by ensuring that all activities are safe and well-organized.

For participants? Behave responsibly and follow instructions. Although you are well protected, this does not mean you can act recklessly.

Flitz-Events: your partner for carefree company outings

At Flitz-Events we know better than anyone that a successful company outing is all about having fun without worries. That is why we make sure that all practical matters are perfectly arranged, so that you and your colleagues can focus on what is really important... enjoying!

From our beautiful Scheveningen we organize company outings throughout the country. Are you looking for a company outing in Amsterdam, company outing in Rotterdam, an outing in The Hague or a company outing in Utrecht? You're in the right place with us. We know the best locations and activities in each region.

No company outing is the same with us! We adapt every activity to your group, from young teams to experienced professionals. Our experience has taught us that group dynamics make the difference between a fun outing and an unforgettable experience. From permits to insurance, from catering to guidance, we take care of everything. All you have to do is show up and enjoy. We work at our own locations as well as at locations of your choice.

Just enjoy!

The great thing about a well-organized company outing is that you don't have to worry about liability. Your employer bears the responsibility, we as a professional event agency take care of the right preparation, and you can fully focus on team building and having fun.

So what are you waiting for? A company outing is an investment in your team that pays off in better cooperation, higher motivation and just a lot more job satisfaction. Let Flitz-Events help you make your next company outing an unforgettable experience!

Request a free quote and discover for yourself why so many companies choose our expertise and enthusiasm. Your team deserves to be able to let go completely, we make sure that this can be done safely and carefree!