Is an employer allowed to charge an employee for accidental damges done to product?
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Is an employer allowed to charge an employee for accidental damges done to product?
The employer threatened to terminate the job in htat moment but instead he wanted
to keep hs hardworking employee, the catch is is that he wants the employee to
pay back the lost product. He is forcing that the price be the same as the
reetail value instead of the production price or what he buys it for. The
employee makes minimun wage. Their are cameras at the work place and the tapes
were reviewed, in the tapes it is seen that the damge was completely accidental.
Is it legal for the employer to make the employee pay and if so, make the person
pay the retail value?
Asked on May 22, 2017 under Employment Labor Law, Ohio
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
The employer cannot take the money out of their paycheck or otherwise legally force them to pay unless he sues them and proves in court that the damage was done negligently--or by their unreasonable carelessness. (So yes, you can be required to pay for things you damage or destroy accidentally, if the accident were due to carelessness.) But the employer can terminate or fire the employees if he feels they cost him money and will not repay it: unless the employees have written employment contracts protecting their employment, they are "employees at will" and may be terminated at any time, for any reason, including that the employer believes they are responsible for his loss.
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