What Does
Negligence Mean?
Negligence is the failure to adhere to the standards of behavior that the law puts in place to ensure the safety of others. In the workplace, an employer can be found negligent with regards to their staff if it is proved that they are not providing a safe work environment. The four most common complaints of negligence are in the areas of hiring, staff retention, supervision and training.
Safeopedia Explains Negligence
One reason an employer can be prosecuted for negligence is for negligent hiring of staff. Negligent hiring is when an employer hires someone who is known to have the potential to bring emotional and/or physical harm to their colleagues. It must be proved that the employer had knowledge of this potential, ie. the employer knew the would-be employee had been let go from previous employment for harassing colleagues. It is the job of all employers to create a safe work environment for their staff. In doing so, employers protect themselves from possible complaints of negligence.