What is the legal term for the responsibility that an employer has for the negligent actions of an employee?

The term that describes the responsibility an employer has for the negligent actions of an employee is vicarious liability. This legal principle holds that an employer can be held liable for the actions of their employees when those actions occur in the course of their employment. Essentially, it means that if an employee causes harm or injury to another person while performing tasks related to their job duties, the employer may be required to compensate for that harm, even if the employer was not directly involved.

In this context, vicarious liability helps ensure that victims have a means of recovery from employers, who are often in a better financial position to provide compensation than individual employees. This principle underlines the importance of supervision, training, and setting standards within the workplace, as employers may also take proactive measures to mitigate potential liabilities stemming from their employees' actions.

The other terms provided in the options refer to different legal concepts: negligence pertains to the failure to exercise appropriate care, an intentional tort involves willful actions that cause harm, and standard of care is a legal benchmark that reflects what is considered acceptable behavior in a specific context or profession. While these concepts are related to liability and care, they do not encapsulate the specific responsibility of an employer for their employee’s negligent actions like v