Can work hold me financially responsible for mistakes at work?
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Can work hold me financially responsible for mistakes at work?
When I came into work today there was a note on the lottery machine at work saying that for any mistakes made you will have to pay for the ticket. If not, everyone at work including yourself, will have to split the cost of the mistake. Is it legal to have to pay for other employees’ mistakes, plus the machine sometimes glitches and prints out its own mistakes.
Asked on December 3, 2016 under Employment Labor Law, Delaware
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
Yes, it is legal. An employer may put any terms or conditions on employment that the employer likes, including that employees must pay for any errrors or mistakes--and including that if one employee does not step forward to pay, all employees will together collectively pay. This is part of "employment at will": the employer can set the rules for working there; and if an employee does not want to work under those rules, he or she can seek other employment.
If you continue working there after being notified of this rule, you will be held to have agreed to it and can be held to it and forced to pay.
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