What defines negligent hiring or negligent entrustment?

The concept of negligent hiring or negligent entrustment revolves around the idea that an employer can be held liable for harm caused by an employee if the employer failed to take reasonable care in hiring or entrusting responsibilities to that employee. This legal principle is anchored in the duty of care the employer owes to the public and to employees themselves.

When an employer hires an employee who is unfit for the job or fails to properly vet an employee before assigning them tasks, and that employee subsequently causes harm while performing their job, the employer may be deemed negligent. This liability arises from the employer's failure to exercise due diligence in the hiring process—essentially, they did not take sufficient steps to ensure that the employee would act responsibly in their role.

In negligent entrustment, an employer can also be liable if they provide someone with equipment or authority without properly assessing their qualification or ability to handle that responsibility, and harm results from that entrustment.

The other options do not encapsulate the essence of negligent hiring or negligent entrustment. Employers are not always liable for all actions of their employees, as liability is contingent on the employer's own negligence in the hiring process. Additionally, individual employee liability for their own actions does not relate directly to the employer