Michael Brockie, 28, an auditor for PwC, has brought the claim against his employer on grounds of negligence, after suffering a head injury at the event. He alleges PwC owed him a duty of care when he attended an outing organised by a PwC manager at its Reading office in April 2019, to celebrate the end of the “busy season”, Australian Financial Review reports.

Mr Brockie said the firm is indirectly responsible for the irresponsible actions of the audit department manager, Simon Fradgley, who organised the event. Mr Fradgley invited PwC employees using his work email and although “it was not compulsory to attend”, it was expected. Mr Fradgley’s invitation read: “I expect absolute attendance from all those who attended last year’s invitational. Nothing short of a certified and countersigned letter by an accredited medical practitioner will suffice as [sic] excuse.”

Mr Brockie claimed the rules of the event “not only encourage but make a competitive virtue of excessive, rapid and prolonged consumption of alcohol over many hours from about 6pm”.

A spokesperson from PwC told Scottish Financial News: “We are unable to comment on the specifics of a matter that is subject to ongoing legal proceedings.

“As a responsible employer we are committed to providing a safe, healthy and inclusive culture for all of our people. We also expect anyone attending social events to be responsible and to ensure their own safety and that of others.”

The annual event has been stopped since the incident.

Mr Fradgley and Mr Brockie still work at PwC.