Can I dock an employees pay for breaking an item in clients home?

Question

If an employee breaks an expensive tool that I own or breaks something in a clients home, can I dock their pay? Please note your source so I can follow up... Thank you.

I am creating the employee manual, we do have insurance but want added protection, especially if deductable is more then value of loss

Answer 1

Depends on their work contract.

If it says you can then you can, if not you can't

Answer 2

I don't think so. Don't you have insurance for that? And I am sure that any type of rule like this would have to be documented in either the employee's contract or an employee manual.

Answer 3

Check the employee handbook at your company for a policy on this. I would imagine before you do it, you must have a policy in WRITING, or an employee could sue you. Consult a lawyer and put a policy in writing to protect yourself from this in the future.

Answer 4

If they are an employee, no..That's what liability insurance is for.
If they are Independant Contractors, they would be solely responsible for the item/s damaged and would have to submit a claim to their ins. carrier..

Check your policy

Answer 5

You cannot deduct anything other than Federal/State statutory items, ( income tax, social security, FICA, FUTA, etc.) unless you have a signed authorization from the employee.

Answer 6

Shouldn't you have insurance to cover damages and losses? Accidents do happen, which is why businesses who work in homes are often required by law to be insured in case something happens.

Answer 7

Don't you have insurance? Anyway, you can't do that unless you have it in writing and the employee signed it when you hired him/her.

Answer 8

yeah of course. but you should have insurance for such things, especially if it was an accident. also make sure that your employee is not an illegal cuz then double whammy for you.