Implied Authority

What is Implied Authority?

Implied or tacit authority is an authority where the principal has not expressly given the authority to their agent, but the authority is assumed based on the responsibilities given.

The term is given in contract law. It is incidental to express authority since all the details about the authority can’t be expressly mentioned.

Implied authority is reasonably necessary to perform the responsibilities given in the agency's contract. The agent impliedly gets the authority to enter into a contract on behalf of the principal.

A person holds an implied authority of contract if they are carrying a nametag or wearing a uniform with the logo or trademark of a company or organization or if they are acting in a clearly authorized role on behalf of the company or organization.

An agency has the right to revoke an employee's implied power at any moment. There are various ways to accomplish this, including:

• Removing authority from a contract or agreement, 
• Terminating the agent's employment, and
• Discharging the agent of any duties.

Examples of Implied authority

Let’s understand this concept with the help of a few examples: 

Restaurant

Suppose a waitress at a restaurant offers you a free beverage in exchange for ordering an entree. They have entered into a contract with you on behalf of the restaurant they work for.

The choice of the server as the single employee of the business designated to conduct business with you implies the server's authority.

It doesn't matter whether other employees participate in the transaction because it is anticipated that they will be the only ones needed to finish the business transaction.

In such a case, the restaurant would be in direct violation of a legally binding contract made between you, the customer, and their employee if the manager approached your table and explained that the server had made a mistake and attempted to withdraw the "free beverage with paid entree" offer. 

Although they are legally obligated to uphold the terms of the agreement, they are free to penalize the employee if they so desire. 

The same rule holds true in cases with more intricate or challenging legal issues.

Salesperson

Suppose a person went into a store and the salesperson informed them that they would get free rustproofing treatment if they bought a car. By doing this, the employee enters into a legal agreement with the person on behalf of the company they work for.

Because she said that the treatment was included with the car, it can be assumed that the clerk had permission to offer the customer the deal.

Due to the implied authority of the contract, if the salesperson enters into the transaction, they are legally obligated and may face punishment from management.

This is not to suggest that it would be wise to sue the salesperson simply because they invented a contract.

The most likely consequence is that the business will apologize to the consumer and that the employee will receive some sort of punishment from the management for their erroneous use of this authority.

Real Estate Agent

Unknowingly, a real estate agent may enter this authority situation when helping a friend look for a home.

For instance, if a person with a real estate license assisted a friend in looking for a property but was not specifically hired to do so, they will move into an implied authority position once the job is finished.

If the person successfully finds their friends the ideal dream home they were seeking, they will now be speaking on their friend's behalf.

Since the act is being performed out of kindness and without any expectation of payment, the agreement is not in writing, which gives it implied authority.

Types of Authority

Three types of authority can be applied in business transactions according to the principle of agency: implied, apparent, and expressed.

Implied Authority

Under this, it is assumed that a person is the principal's agent and has the authority to make a contract on behalf of the principal.

Apparent Authority

Under the apparent authority, the third party believes that the agent has the right to act and enter into a contract on behalf of the principal.

The agent gives the impression that they have the authority to act as a representative of the principal through their conduct.

The principal might also act in such a manner that gives the impression to the third party that the said person is their agent.

Expressed Authority

Under the expressed authority, the principal grants to the agent, either verbally or in writing, the authority to act and enter into a contract on his behalf.

For instance, when an insurance company explicitly authorizes an insurance agent to seek and solicit new life insurance customers, the salesperson's primary goal will be to locate potential customers and sell them life insurance.

Liability and Implied Authority

Employers may be held accountable when an employee acts with implied authority. In the instance of the car dealer above, the liability may only be a decreased profit on the vehicle, but in other circumstances, the liability may be more severe. 

For instance, if a ski resort employee violates the company policy by allowing a child to ride a ski lift unsupervised and the child is injured, the business may be held liable for a sizable sum.

While the firm might be held liable, it can argue that the employee's actions fell outside of its purview, leaving the employee responsible. 

For instance, in the situation described above, when it was against the company policy to let young children ride ski lifts unaccompanied, the employee went beyond the scope of their job contract and could be held personally liable.

A detailed corporate policy manual outlining what employees can and cannot do is advisable in light of this situation. 

The organization should ensure that every employee signs a statement attesting to having read and comprehended the policy manual.

Consider a case where a worker at a hardware store frequently "gives away the store." He offers exclusive discounts to his friends, returns, or refunds without complying with the refund policy and adds extras (such as nails and screws) to bags. 

What Would You Do In Such Circumstances?

Here are a few ideas:

• By making it obvious to the staff that they cannot deviate from the prices or policies without your express agreement, you can try to prevent the abuse of authority.
• Employees who continue to abuse implied power may be disciplined.
• The employee can be transferred to a different position where they cannot abuse their authority.

Implied Authority in Partnerships

Implied authority is granted to each party when two people engage in a business agreement and join as partners in a firm. The partner in a partnership firm has the authority to bind the partners and the firm by their acts according to implied authority.

In such a situation, each partner has the implicit authority to act on the firm's behalf in the regular course of business, including:

• Buying and selling goods and services
• Invoicing clients and collecting money
• Contracting for advertising and other services

Broadly, each partner has an implicit legal right to act on behalf of their respective organization. 

There are some things that partners may only do with the express permission of the partnership (as evidenced by a written agreement and its approval), such as:

• Purchasing real estate (buildings and land) on the partnership's behalf
• Filing a legal action
• Submitting a dispute to arbitration
• Forming a new joint venture, partnership, or connection with another legal entity
• Renouncement of a partnership claim
• Admitting mistakes in a lawsuit

Researched and authored by Harveen Kaur Ahluwalia | LinkedIn

Reviewed and Edited by Purva Arora | LinkedIn

Free Resources

To continue learning and advancing your career, check out these additional helpful WSO resources:

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• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)