Does an employee have to repay broken or lost company material?

Verified 28 April 2026 - Entreprendre Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The employer cannot ask the employee to reimburse the damage or loss of the equipment if it has been broken or lost unintentionally. In this situation, the employer also cannot ask the employee to buy back the broken or lost equipment. The employer cannot ask the employee to pay for miscellaneous supplies of any kind.

However, in the event of gross negligence (for example, degradation voluntary committed with the aim of harming the employer), the employee may be dismissed and ordered to pay the employer damages and interest.

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