✒ The staff claimed that the firm was indirectly liable for the negligence of the manager who organised the drinks and “failed to take reasonable care for the safety of co-workers”.

In the (work) email invitation, the manager stated:

“I expect absolute attendance from all those who attended last year’s invitational. Nothing short of a certified and countersigned letter by an accredited medical practitioner will suffice as [sic] excuse.”

The claimant said “while it was not compulsory to attend, there was very heavy pressures to do so”.