Ok, we all know March Madness is here, and so is the illegal gambling in the form of brackets and pools.

Office pools are gambling; there is no way around it. As the employer, your employees may think you’re the “fun police,” but you are also the one who has to set rules and standards of conduct and the one who is potentially liable for illegal activity. Your employees are at work, and gambling is not appropriate for the workplace.

Sending a memo out about gambling in advance of March Madness or other major sporting events may put an end to any office pools and also will show that your company does not condone such activities.

Having said that, understand that consistency is key. Don’t forbid employees to participate in a March Madness office pool but allow them to participate in a baby or gender pool. Gambling is gambling, and “no” means “No!”

This Blog post is provided as an educational service by the Law and Mediation Offices of Jil Dalesandro for clients and friends of the firm. This post is an overview only, is not a solicitation, and should not be construed as legal advice or advice to take any specific action.

DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.