Does my employer have the legal right to destroy or dispose of my personal property?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Does my employer have the legal right to destroy or dispose of my personal property?

The HR person at work is angry at us because we’ve left dirty coffee cups in the sink too often. HR sent out an email yesterday informing us that if we leave a personal coffee cup in the sink for more than 24 hours it will be thrown away. Do they have the legal right to do this legally? I’m not concerned about coffee cups – I’m concerned about larger legal question – does my employer have the legal right to dispose of/destroy any or all items of an employee’s personal property at will? When I become an employee of corporation ‘X’, do I give up all rights to my personal property?

Asked on February 19, 2016 under Employment Labor Law, Texas

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 8 years ago | Contributor

No, they can't dispose of your property *at will* but they CAN put out policies regarding personal property at work and its disposition/disposal, and if you violate those policies after notice of them, they could act as indicated in the policies--including throwing out belongings (like the coffee cups, which they have warned you about).


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption