Orbitz and Allstar Sports Bar are p...

Orbitz and Allstar Sports Bar are pioneering a modern kind of employee incentive program.

yet Sue Murphy, manager of the 1,200-member National Human Resources Association, isn't sold upon the idea of tying incentives to socializing among employee

"I don't know many organizations that would give certificates for drinks to employee with all the sensitivity around company- sponsored incidents and liability," Murphy said of the program. "I can understand their wanting employee to master along. But the reality is you don't have to like everybody you work with to work effectively."

Firms are cutting down in succession sponsoring events that foster drinking and socializing amongst employee said California labor and employing attorney John Alessio, a partner at Thompson & Alessio. as it is events might leave employers expos to liability in the result of sexual harassment, drunk driving, assault or other criminal behavior, he said.

"It settles the stage for harassment cases and possible incidents involving intoxication that can be molten through to the company if it's a company-sponsored event" he said.

Closer to to one's home a company should be released from exposure to lawsuits in in the same state [i]or[/i] condition cases provided it has a sexual harassment policy, said William Borah, past chairman of the Illinois Labor and office Law Section Council of the Illinois State Bar Association.

"In Illinois, we surmise adult behavior and self-discipline," he said. "That means that the individual will take responsibility for his or her actions and behaviors."

cjackson@suntimes.com

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