Are you thinking about playing a practical joke on an employee or making a funny comment to a co-worker on April Fools’ Day? Think twice and get legal advice. The experienced Nevada injury lawyers at Kidwell & Gallagher LTD in Elko knows April Fools’ Day pranks can cause trouble at work. Consider these examples of what can happen even when pranksters mean no harm.

Injury Lawyers Know April Fools’ Day Pranks Can Mean Trouble

Age Jokes Can Lead to Big Settlement Numbers

A recent lawsuit resulted after a major retail chain’s store supervisors taunted an older employee with comments about his age. When the employee sought a job reassignment to accommodate a medical condition, the employer refused and later fired him. The worker sued the company, claiming employment discrimination based on age and disability—he also received a six-figure settlement.

Workers’ Comp May Not Cover Horseplay

Watch out for April Fools’ Day physical pranks on co-workers. Nevada employees may not receive workers’ comp benefits when they engage in physical horseplay or throw objects in jest, causing injury while at work. Therefore, the personal doing harm may be liable. If you’ve been a victim of horseplay at work, seek a consult with a lawyer to determine your options for compensation.

Pranks Can Diminish Morale  

Even law firms can play April Fools’ Day jokes that fall flat. A prominent billion-dollar law firm emailed its employees announcing the firm would be restricting their ability to send emails on weekends and during their vacations. Once the hard-working lawyers learned it was a joke, they did not find it funny at all. Their response conveyed their anger to the law firm’s executive partner, who later emailed an apology—but couldn’t undo the negativity that had been caused.  

If you suffer an injury on April Fools’ Day, or any other day of the year, consult an injury lawyer at Kidwell & Gallagher LTD in Elko, NV. Call (775) 738-1000 to schedule an appointment, and visit their website for more about their practice areas.