My employer is requiring me to sign a document before I take work computer home.

[unsaint32]

I am an accounting clerk at a trading company. Due to the pandemic I have to take an office computer home to work from home. However, my boss is making me sign a document that says I will be responsible for any damage happens to the computer hardware and software. My question #1 is, is it legal? My question #2 is, can company fire me for not signing this? My question #3 is, can the company charge me the cost of repair (or take it out of my pay) if the computer damage occurs? Thank you.

[ULA]

Hi, in answer to your questions:

1. Yes your employer can ask you to sign a document to say that you will be responsible for any damage caused to company property they provide you.
2. Have you more than two years service with the company? If so then they would need to follow a fair process before they could dismiss you.
3. Does the document you have been asked to sign have any reference to deducting the cost of any repair from your salary or is there a clause in your contract of employment regarding deductions from salary.

[paulajayne]

Their property and they want you to look after it. Hardware clause seems OK but software is iffy.

I would sign for the hardware only.

[ULA]

Good point make by @Paulajayne.

Would also make sure they have put antivirus on the computer, would be a good preventative measure for them to do this.

[unsaint32]

Thank you for the reply. Since I have no intention of signing it, I guess the real question I should have asked was, how can they prove that the damage was due to my fault? I am basing that on the fact that computers go bad all the time. Also they are making me transport and set up the computer, and they certainly did not train me on any of that. I am an accounting clerk.

[efpom]

If you do not have an insurable interest in the goods, which seems to be the case here, you cannot obtain insurance cover for loss or damage to the goods when in your custody.

It seems to me that your employer, is, in fact, asking you to act as it’s insurer of the goods.

The non contentious solution to this, seems to me to be that you suggest to your employer that it obtains insurance cover, in it’s own name, to cover any loss or damage to the goods whilst in your custody.

I have come across similar situations, notably drivers of company vehicles being requested to indemnify their employer for damage caused to the vehicle when they are operating it.