If my car was broken into when I was not working and the cameras and backgrounds that my company provides were stolen, can they hold me liable for their cost?

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If my car was broken into when I was not working and the cameras and backgrounds that my company provides were stolen, can they hold me liable for their cost?

Asked on November 17, 2014 under Employment Labor Law, Maryland

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 9 years ago | Contributor

They can only hold you liable if:

1) you had agreed (such as in am employment agreement and/or anything you were given to sign when the cameras were given to you) that you would be responsible;

2) you were negligent, or unreasonably careless, in their loss, such as by not locking the car, leaving expensive equipment in plain sight while parking in a bad area, etc.; or

3) you actually participated in the theft (stole them yourself, helped or let someone steal them, etc.).

The above said, if you don't have an employment contract protecting your employment, if your employer is annoyed, they could fire you; without an employment contract, you are an "employee at will," and employees at will may be fired at any time for any reason or no reason at all.


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