does employee pay for breakages in retail?

[kelebek]

I have a friend that works in a gift shop full of lot's of lovely, pretty things and she was telling me today that she has broken a couple of things and the owners have made her pay for them. Is this right? if you work in retail and break something that you have to pay for it?

Can anyone point me to somewhere (an organisation/website etc...) that would cover this.


TIA

[Pandora]

I didn't think they did.
Id start with fair work australia

[Boo Boo]

isn't that what insurance is for?

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

If it were accidental then she shouldn't be held responsible (any employee rights website should be able to tell you that). However, if she threw the items on the ground or played football inside, I can see the owners' PoV.

[Phteven]

isn't that what insurance is for?

they probably double dip on the insurance - charge her and claim on insurance.

[*TripleJ*]

i dunno about a gift shop as such but i do know ppl that worked in a bottle shop and dropped a box of very expensive alcohol and didnt have to pay anything for it so i dont think that would be very fair especially if it was by accident

[Nai]

Unless it was deliberate then I would say no. I know if something happens to the garments in our stores our employees don't have to pay for them and they are put through as returns or damaged goods.

I would feel way too nervous working in a shop like that if it was the case - I would probably be breaking things all the time as I'm so clumsy!

[kelebek]

They sounded like accidents to me. I was shocked that the owners had made her pay for it and I thought that was the point of insurance too. I will do some searchs as I would like to have some concrete info to give her.

Thanks so much for you help.

[Ozziehoffy]

In all my years that I worked in retail I've never heard of that ever! I would definitely be looking into it and like Onyx said.. they're possibly double dipping!!!

[Floweryfields]

I worked in retail for 10 years, and yep, broke a few things in that time. Never had to pay for any of them. They have what's called 'shrinkage' so when you stocktake, the difference is the shrinkage allowance (so for theft and breakages). I think it's pretty unfair to expect staff to pay - unless they are seriously clumsy and breaking expensive items three times a day .

[~StarBright~]

I broke many a bottle of beer and glasses at the pub when I worked there and never had to pay. Also working at supermarkets I have dropped things and never had to pay either. Fair enough they probably only cost a few dollars, but it shouldnt matter either way. It sounds unfair to me.