Is the employer responsible when an employee has personaly property stolen.
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Is the employer responsible when an employee has personaly property stolen.
I work at a small ground floor store for a very large company. My property was stolen when I was left alone by my manager for most of the day. There is no security in the store.
Asked on July 21, 2017 under Employment Labor Law, New York
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
The mere fact that property is stolen at work, does not automatically make an employer liable for the loss. Liability will depend on a whether the employer has agreed to accept responsibility for stolen items via an employment contract or company policy or it has a custom and practice of covering such losses. The fact is that employees take in personal possessions at their own risk. Further, there is no legal obligation to provide secure facilities for employees to store their belongings. Bottom line, the best place to keep personal belongings is in a locked drawer.
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
The mere fact that property is stolen at work, does not automatically make an employer liable for the loss. Liability will depend on a whether the employer has agreed to accept responsibility for stolen items via an employment contract or company policy or it has a custom and practice of covering such losses. The fact is that employees take in personal possessions at their own risk. Further, there is no legal obligation to provide secure facilities for employees to store their belongings. Bottom line, the best place to keep personal belongings is in a locked drawer.
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