Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, which party may be held liable for the actions of an employee performed within the scope of employment?

• A. The employee bears liability for actions within the scope of employment.
• B. Employers can be held liable for employees' actions performed within the scope of employment.
• C. Liability for independent contractors only.
• D. The government is always liable for employee actions.

Answer: (B)

Respondeat superior means an employer can be held liable for what an employee does while performing the job. When someone is acting within the scope of their employment—carrying out duties, following instructions, or conducting work-related tasks—the employer is considered responsible for those actions because the employee is acting as the employer’s agent. This is why the employer is the party most often able to answer for damages or harms arising from the employee’s conduct in the course of work. The employee may still have personal liability, but the employer’s liability exists due to the employer’s control over the work and the relationship between employer and employee. If the act occurs outside the scope of employment, or involves an independent contractor, the employer typically isn’t liable in the same way.