Does an employee have to pay for any vehicle damages in a crash if they were driving a work vehicle during working hours?
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Does an employee have to pay for any vehicle damages in a crash if they were driving a work vehicle during working hours?
Asked on December 4, 2017 under Employment Labor Law, Alaska
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
Unless you have protection under the terms of a union agreement or employment contract, your comapny is under no legal duty to cover damages to your vehicle. The fact is that in such a situation, you use it at your own risk. The fact is that most employment is "at will" which means that a business can set the conditions of employment much as it sees fit (absent some form of legally actionable discrimination). This includes having a worker use their own vehicle for company business but not reimbursing them for its use and/or repairs.
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
Unless you have protection under the terms of a union agreement or employment contract, your comapny is under no legal duty to cover damages to your vehicle. The fact is that in such a situation, you use it at your own risk. The fact is that most employment is "at will" which means that a business can set the conditions of employment much as it sees fit (absent some form of legally actionable discrimination). This includes having a worker use their own vehicle for company business but not reimbursing them for its use and/or repairs.
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