What can an individual employer do if his employee breaks an object?

Verified 20 June 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The individual employer is responsible damage caused by his employee at home.

If he considers that the damages committed by the employee are volunteers, the individual employer may impose a penalty on him by warning, a lay-off or a dismissal. This will be the case, for example, when the employee voluntarily breaks a vase.

The employer cannot hold back the price of the broken item on the employee's salary, nor ask him to refund the item. The financial penaltiesare forbidden.

In addition to his insurance civil liability as a personal matter, the employer may take out professional indemnity insurance to cover the damage caused by his employee.

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