Dear Sirs,
One of my friends is working in an engineering development-based company. They provide laptops for official use. In December 2012, a laptop was misplaced due to the carelessness of my friend. The management lodged a claim with the insurance company, but the claim was rejected due to the negligence of the employee. As a result, the management is forcing my friend to repay the depreciated value of the laptop. In my opinion, the management is correct in this instance.
Please provide your opinion, sirs. If my friend does not repay the amount, will any legal action be taken against them?
Thank you.
From Czech Republic, Prague
One of my friends is working in an engineering development-based company. They provide laptops for official use. In December 2012, a laptop was misplaced due to the carelessness of my friend. The management lodged a claim with the insurance company, but the claim was rejected due to the negligence of the employee. As a result, the management is forcing my friend to repay the depreciated value of the laptop. In my opinion, the management is correct in this instance.
Please provide your opinion, sirs. If my friend does not repay the amount, will any legal action be taken against them?
Thank you.
From Czech Republic, Prague
Dear Mr.Vinothkumar89
Yes , the decision of Management is correct and if your friend will not repay the amount organization will take any disciplinary action must be referred form company policy. Normally such things get captured in company’s code of conduct or policy manual. Your friend has to review the situation objectively, and take decision which is win-win for both. But First ask to your friend that the organization provide him employee handbook after joining if yes check it is there prescribed such code of conduct or not if yes then your friend will have to pay depreciated Laptop value.
With Regards
From India, Ranchi
Yes , the decision of Management is correct and if your friend will not repay the amount organization will take any disciplinary action must be referred form company policy. Normally such things get captured in company’s code of conduct or policy manual. Your friend has to review the situation objectively, and take decision which is win-win for both. But First ask to your friend that the organization provide him employee handbook after joining if yes check it is there prescribed such code of conduct or not if yes then your friend will have to pay depreciated Laptop value.
With Regards
From India, Ranchi
Are you a part of the HR Team? Please draft a laptop policy and a declaration to be signed at the point of the employee being issued a laptop. It's not just a machine but holds important information for the company; hence, it needs to be taken far too seriously. You might find many such declarations in this community to refer to; however, identify what is crucial to your firm and design one. Trust that helps!
From India, Mumbai
From India, Mumbai
I agree with the previous comments. In addition to Cite Contribution's suggestion, till the policy is in place, the depreciated value should be recovered from the employee, and a warning letter issued on his carelessness. An organization cannot be expected to foot the bill for an employee's carelessness. Moreover, once a precedence is created, every such case will come in.
Warm regards.
From India, Delhi
Warm regards.
From India, Delhi
Hello Mr Vinothkumar and All
Well I also agree with the decision of Management and other members, and you must have a policy in this regard if still do not have define any Term & Conditions yet. But one thing I would say, if there is no policy defined for issuing and use of any asset/laptop to any employee and other required conditions, it doesn’t matter employee negligence can be accepted. Basically, I want to say, employee is directly responsible for this carelessness act which can’t be bear at any cost, and has to repay the appropriate value of Laptop which will be another sample of treatment of these kind of cases for your all employee and they will take these things seriously.
“An organization cannot be expected to foot the bill for employee's carelessness. “ -Raj Kumar
From India, Gurgaon
Well I also agree with the decision of Management and other members, and you must have a policy in this regard if still do not have define any Term & Conditions yet. But one thing I would say, if there is no policy defined for issuing and use of any asset/laptop to any employee and other required conditions, it doesn’t matter employee negligence can be accepted. Basically, I want to say, employee is directly responsible for this carelessness act which can’t be bear at any cost, and has to repay the appropriate value of Laptop which will be another sample of treatment of these kind of cases for your all employee and they will take these things seriously.
“An organization cannot be expected to foot the bill for employee's carelessness. “ -Raj Kumar
From India, Gurgaon
Thank you for all your comments, seniors.
I am not working in the HR team; I am working in an Insurance Broking Company. My friend asked me about a missing laptop and whether it is possible to take any action with the ombudsman or pursue any legal recourse.
Is it possible to refer my friend regarding this problem?
Thanks & Regards,
Vinoth Kumar
From Czech Republic, Prague
I am not working in the HR team; I am working in an Insurance Broking Company. My friend asked me about a missing laptop and whether it is possible to take any action with the ombudsman or pursue any legal recourse.
Is it possible to refer my friend regarding this problem?
Thanks & Regards,
Vinoth Kumar
From Czech Republic, Prague
Dear Vinothkumar,
The problem has arisen because it appears that you do not have a proper policy on the allotment of company assets to the employees. You could have checked this forum for past replies to similar queries. Anyway, please check my past replies:
- https://www.citehr.com/375356-ex-emp...ml#post1725508
- https://www.citehr.com/412483-employ...ml#post1874458
- https://www.citehr.com/452041-compan...ml#post2029477
Thanks,
Dinesh V Divekar
From India, Bangalore
The problem has arisen because it appears that you do not have a proper policy on the allotment of company assets to the employees. You could have checked this forum for past replies to similar queries. Anyway, please check my past replies:
- https://www.citehr.com/375356-ex-emp...ml#post1725508
- https://www.citehr.com/412483-employ...ml#post1874458
- https://www.citehr.com/452041-compan...ml#post2029477
Thanks,
Dinesh V Divekar
From India, Bangalore
Dear Vinothkumar,
Your friend is lucky. The company has charged him the depreciated value of the asset. In most companies I know, they will have him pay the replacement value. He was careless. No company will accept that. It's better that he accepts the matter and pays it.
From India, Mumbai
Your friend is lucky. The company has charged him the depreciated value of the asset. In most companies I know, they will have him pay the replacement value. He was careless. No company will accept that. It's better that he accepts the matter and pays it.
From India, Mumbai
Dear Vinoth,
Please request your friend to thank his stars; he's been incredibly lucky. Ideally, a firm needs to lodge a police complaint as that missing laptop is a company property with valuable information. Your friend hadn't signed any laptop agreement, which gives him protection from being dragged into a legal hassle. Paying up is the easiest way out.
[Stolen laptop recovered - The Hindu](http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/antitheft-software-traces-lost-laptop/article4320440.ece)
From India, Mumbai
Please request your friend to thank his stars; he's been incredibly lucky. Ideally, a firm needs to lodge a police complaint as that missing laptop is a company property with valuable information. Your friend hadn't signed any laptop agreement, which gives him protection from being dragged into a legal hassle. Paying up is the easiest way out.
[Stolen laptop recovered - The Hindu](http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/antitheft-software-traces-lost-laptop/article4320440.ece)
From India, Mumbai
Dear Saswatabanerjee & (Cite Contribution),
Actually, I also mentioned to my friend that you are lucky because the laptop purchased in February 2010 had a value of 1,25,000/- as per the invoice. However, the Company is repaying only Rs. 65,000/- due to good conduct.
Thanks for all your comments.
S.Vinoth Kumar
From Czech Republic, Prague
Actually, I also mentioned to my friend that you are lucky because the laptop purchased in February 2010 had a value of 1,25,000/- as per the invoice. However, the Company is repaying only Rs. 65,000/- due to good conduct.
Thanks for all your comments.
S.Vinoth Kumar
From Czech Republic, Prague
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