What term describes the liability for the acts of an employee?

• A. Direct liability
• B. Vicarious liability
• C. Criminal liability
• D. Strict liability

Answer: (B)

Vicarious liability is the liability that an employer bears for the acts of its employees when those acts are performed within the course and scope of their work. This rests on the idea of the employer’s agency relationship with the employee: the employee acts as the employer’s agent, and the employer can be held responsible for negligent or wrongful conduct the employee commits while carrying out job duties, even if the employer did not personally commit the wrong.

For example, if a worker crashes a company vehicle while performing a job task, the employer can be held liable for the damage because the employee was acting within the scope of employment. This distinguishes vicarious liability from direct liability, where the employer would be at fault for its own negligent acts, such as failing to train or supervise properly. It also contrasts with criminal liability, which involves punishment for criminal conduct (typically focused on the individual, though sometimes entities can be charged in specific cases), and with strict liability, which imposes responsibility without fault for certain activities or products, not due to the employee’s actions per se. In short, the term that describes liability for the acts of an employee is vicarious liability.