Reply to: Personal property stolen while at client

[SueEllen]

You're supposed to lock things away. I don't see the company has an obligation here. The only person liable is whoever took it.

I had a pen stolen once by a cleaner. It's just tough.

A cleaner who steals

Most cleaners don't touch the property they clean, likewise builders if they inclined to steal will do your neighbours properties not yours.

[MarillionFan]

You are asking two different questions.

1) what can I claim through my company... Laptop yes, leather jacket no.
and
2) if some thing goes missing when on site, who's responsibility is it... Yours

Obscure.

Clothing needed for my work. If you've lost your McDonalds uniform then let them know they'll get you another, if its a work shirt (I need that for work) then tough(let them know). We all need to wear clothes to work doesn't make it a business expense.

[BlasterBates]

You're supposed to lock things away. I don't see the company has an obligation here. The only person liable is whoever took it.

I had a pen stolen once by a cleaner. It's just tough.

[BrilloPad]

Leave some more stuff out and setup a secret camera.....

[cojak]

I think OP's point of view has a lot to do with the recently very popular 'dressing like slut is not asking for it' type of thinking and derives from its premises. In short the parallel goes like this:

you dress like slut - you attract more attention from potential assailants(in effect get assaulted) - you then proceed to blame everybody, but yourself

you leave your crap in the office - you take a chance to lose it, no matter stolen or cleaned up(you lose it) - you then proceed to expect the client or someone else to pay for it

What a shame.

That's an unsavoury comparison Quagmire. People getting assaulted because of what they wear bears no relation to leaving items unattended.

[SueEllen]

Well im not being specific as I dont know who actually uses these forums.

But then you are more likely to get your "personal item" back.

For example if you stated I left a cardigan on the back of my chair and it went missing and someone who thinks they work in the same office knows someone who picked up a cardigan you would get it back.

BTW If you have lost a womens cardigan in the past two years or so in various offices in London and the SE I always dump them on reception when the receptionist isn't looking.

[Quagmire]

I think OP's point of view has a lot to do with the recently very popular 'dressing like slut is not asking for it' type of thinking and derives from its premises. In short the parallel goes like this:

you dress like slut - you attract more attention from potential assailants(in effect get assaulted) - you then proceed to blame everybody, but yourself

you leave your crap in the office - you take a chance to lose it, no matter stolen or cleaned up(you lose it) - you then proceed to expect the client or someone else to pay for it

What a shame.

[Pondlife]

Well im not being specific as I dont know who actually uses these forums.

I think the general point is to just suck it up as id expect the wholly and exclusively arguement wouldnt stand up.

However for arguments sake say this was a laptop or some other item which would satisfy the wholly and exclusively rule, would that differ much.

You are asking two different questions.

1) what can I claim through my company... Laptop yes, leather jacket no.
and
2) if some thing goes missing when on site, who's responsibility is it... Yours

[Pondlife]

Troll or moron, maybe both.

If the OP had been, I have had some safety clothing taken from my desk which I leave there at weekends cos it's only needed when on site blah blah. Then the answer may have been. Make sure your company equipment is marked as such and make sure the client is aware that there is an opportunist about. Since it's YourCo equipment, buy another through your company etc... But we know this won't have been the case. It will be some new shoes or a suit jacket that the OP bought for the role but doesn't want to wear them on his cycle home or some such bollux.

[North887]

Also apologies for the text speak but touch key pads arent my favourites.

[North887]

Well im not being specific as I dont know who actually uses these forums.

I think the general point is to just suck it up as id expect the wholly and exclusively arguement wouldnt stand up.

However for arguments sake say this was a laptop or some other item which would satisfy the wholly and exclusively rule, would that differ much.

[ExPermie]

Otherwise this drip feed of info is just fcking annoying to people trying to help!

Especially the OP's "im", "ud", "id" and "itd" txt-speak nonsense.

[jmo21]

can't see any company "picking up the tab" for any personal or "your company" owned item.

[Pondlife]

Hi

It was an item of clothing, not the sort of thing ud expect to be taken. Its definately not been cleaned up, someone had sticky fingers.

I only asked about the client covering as when I was a perm I worked a few places where im sure they would have picked up the tab for it. My argument for my service company covering it would that itd be a genuine cost of employment. The item was required to do the work, it wasnt something id ever used in a personal capacity.

Again, you are being vague. If it is something that is wholly and exclusively required for you to do your role then yes it's a company expense but you are saying it's a personal item. which is it? This would be a lot simpler if you said "someone has stolen my hard hat" in the OP.

Otherwise this drip feed of info is just fcking annoying to people trying to help!

[North887]

Hi

It was an item of clothing, not the sort of thing ud expect to be taken. Its definately not been cleaned up, someone had sticky fingers.

I only asked about the client covering as when I was a perm I worked a few places where im sure they would have picked up the tab for it. My argument for my service company covering it would that itd be a genuine cost of employment. The item was required to do the work, it wasnt something id ever used in a personal capacity.