Material liability – what am I liable for?

Chapters of the article

• Intentional damage
• Material liability agreement
• Agreement on liability for loss of entrusted goods
• Protection of employer’s property
• Contributory Liability

The employee is liable for damage caused to the employer only to a limited extent. The damage must always be caused culpably and in connection with the performance of work.

For example, if an employee inadvertently knocks over an important fibre-optic cable on a construction site, his employer must pay the full amount of damages and any lost profits to the victim. However, the employee can only recover a maximum of 4.5 times his average monthly earnings, no matter how high the damage is.

However, there are exceptions to the rule limiting compensation for damages or lost profits to 4.5 times the employee’s average monthly wage. These exceptions include:

Intentional damages

The 4½ times limitation does not apply if the damage was caused intentionally, while drunk, or after the use of other addictive substances (e.g., marijuana). However, the employer must prove this. This can be done, for example, by calling witnesses from the “wet district” when the employee admits to his colleagues in the evening after his shift that he cut the cable on purpose in order to “embarrass” the employer.

Material liability agreement

What is material liability

A material liability is an agreement between the employee and the employer. In this agreement, the employee agrees to take responsibility for the values entrusted to him by the employer. The subject of the agreement is always only things used for turnover or circulation. Specifically, it may be cash, prizes, goods, materials or other values that are the subject of the work.

For employers, this agreement has two advantages. First, it does not have to prove the employee’s fault. In addition, the employee is liable for the entire loss and the limitation of a multiple of average earnings does not apply. The only defence against a reported shortfall is to show that the employee was not at fault (e.g. a third party was proven to have been robbed on the night in question). If more than one employee enters into the agreement (e.g., an entire shift), the increased liability is on the supervisor and his/her deputy. They pay a greater share of the total damage.

This agreement must be negotiated in writing and automatically terminates upon termination of employment. It is concluded not only for the main employment but also for agreements. However, it can only be concluded by a person over 18 years of age and with full legal capacity.

The material liability agreement can be withdrawn, but only in certain cases:

1. The first reason is that the employee performs work other than that for which he or she was hired and which is specified in the employment contract. For example, if the employee was hired to clean the warehouse, but the employer wants him to occasionally cover for the warehouse keeper.
2. The agreement can also be terminated if the employee is transferred to another job or another workplace. Even officially. In this case, the employee must sign a new agreement.
3. If the employee has alerted his employer to defects in the working conditions preventing the proper management of the values entrusted to him. If the employer does not remedy these defects within 15 calendar days of receiving the notice, the employee may withdraw from the agreement.

Agreement on liability for loss of entrusted items

The situation is similar for the agreement on liability for loss of entrusted items. Under the agreement, a specific item (e.g. a laptop) is taken over. Here, the employee also does not have to prove the employee’s fault in the destruction or loss of the item and can claim full compensation without limitation. The employee can only defend himself by proving that he did not cause the destruction or loss of the item (e.g. a colleague destroyed it). The employee can then make good the damage by getting the employer a similar tool for which he or she accepted responsibility (e.g. an equally old and powerful laptop) or by paying for the damage taking into account wear and tear and the real cost of replacement.

It is also possible to withdraw from the agreement on liability for the loss of entrusted items if the employer has not created the conditions to protect the entrusted items against loss.

Protection of the employer’s property

An employee shall not be liable for damage caused by him in the course of averting a threatened loss to his employer or a danger to life or limb if he did not intentionally create the situation and acted in a manner reasonable in the circumstances. However, increased caution is also recommended here. The employee has a duty to protect the employer’s property. Thus, if, for example, an employee rushing home saw strange smoke above the lumber store and did nothing, did not report it, but only mentioned it in the pub in the evening, the employer could indirectly blame him for the damage caused by the fire (here he is liable up to three and a half times his average monthly earnings).

Contributory liability

If the employer also caused the damage, the employee shall only pay a proportionate part of the damage according to the degree of his or her fault. If more than one employee is liable for the damage, each employee shall bear a proportionate share of the damage according to the degree of his or her fault. As a general rule, the court may reduce the amount of damages proportionately for reasons of special consideration. E.g. the employee is of “unsound” mind and in a difficult life situation.