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Employer’s Duty of Care

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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on October 21, 2010 that “The total recordable nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rate among private industry employers declined in 2009 to 3.6 cases per 100 workers--its lowest level since 2003” (www.bls.gov). That is great indication that workplaces became much safer. It should be a mutual effort by employees and employers to keep workplace safe and secure. “Duty of care is a legal obligation imposed on an individual requiring that they adhere to a standard of reasonable care while performing any acts that could foreseeably harm others”(en.wikipedia.org).”The duty of care may be imposed by operation of law between individuals with no current direct relationship (familial or contractual or otherwise), but eventually become related in some manner, as defined by common law (meaning case law). Duty of care may be considered a formalization of the social contract, the implicit responsibilities held by individuals towards others within society. It is not a requirement that a duty of care be defined by law, though it will often develop through the jurisprudence of common law”(en.wikipedia.org).

1. Explain whether Jake’s actions are in or out of “his scope of employment.”
Scope of employment is defined in dictionary.law.com as an “actions of an employee which further the business of the employer and are not personal business, which becomes the test as to whether an employer is liable for damages due to such actions under the doctrine of respondent superior” and also as “all acts reasonably necessary or incident to the performance of work, including matters of personal convenience and comfort that do not conflict with specific instructions” legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com. In the case employee Jake was instructed by employer Herman to preform only oil change as an advertising strategy to

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