Accidental damage to work colleague?

Testa011

Hi all,

Shortly after arriving at work today ( a busy kitchen), I walked over to the mains counter, there was a broom that was balanced against this counter that I didn't see/put there. I walked into the broom and the broom began to fall. The broom fell onto a colleague's phone charger cable. This caused the phone to fall off of a chest-high shelf and fall onto the floor. After realising that the phone had fallen off the shelf I looked at the screen and it was majorly cracked in multiple places _pale_. I put it back and I let my colleague know that it had fallen off the shelf and that I think it might have been my fault. He's going to check the security cameras in the kitchen later this evening. He has made it clear that if it's my fault i WILL be paying for it.

Where do i stand in regards to this? Do I have to pay for the phone repair? (Iphone X by the way). Should the phone have really been so poorly placed in the first place? It was very close to the edge and the cable was hanging. Was he also negligent towards the phone anyways? It had no screen protector, no case and probably shouldn't have been in the kitchen in the first place ( a lot of hazards). On a side note, could it be that my workplace would reimburse him?

Ps. I have less that £10 to my name at the moment

1886

I think your work's policy will play some part in this, particularly if phones should be kept in a locker for example

He can't make you pay for it, also it was an accident. I guess it's depends on your relationship, is he a good friend etc

Something similar happened at my work. The owner of the phone sorted it out himself. The phone shouldn't have been balancing on top of a plug socket charging in our case and we have a no phones policy but of course in this day and age ppl can't live without their phone

Dox

No idea if your workplace would cover this sort of accident - ask them. They may have insurance for just this sort of event.

If charging a phone in the kitchen was specifically not allowed, they won't pay - and unlikely you would have to if he acted in breach of company regulations.

Forget the idea of negligence because there was no case etc.

Testa011

1886 wrote: »

I think your work's policy will play some part in this, particularly if phones should be kept in a locker for example

He can't make you pay for it, also it was an accident. I guess it's depends on your relationship, is he a good friend etc

Something similar happened at my work. The owner of the phone sorted it out himself. The phone shouldn't have been balancing on top of a plug socket charging in our case and we have a no phones policy but of course in this day and age ppl can't live without their phone

Thanks for the help, I should probably check into my contract to see whether or not they would pay for it, or if he shouldn't even have it in the kitchen anyway

PasturesNew

It was an accident, it's not as if you were standing on the worktop and using the broom as a microphone while singing old Elvis songs and kicked it off.

Some things in life are just accidents.

If he wants to play fast and loose with expensive phones, he should at least have it listed as an item insured "outside of the home" on his home policy.

Best thing you can do is try to distance yourself from this .... because it was an accident .... entirely .... and you're very sorry, but it was a daft place to have put it ....

Be nice, but firm. "Sorry - but it's really, and legally, not my problem."

stripeyfox

You weren't negligent and it was an accident.

If he wants to drop £1000+ on a phone he shouldn't leave it lying around in a communal area and he should at the very least have it insured.

Not your problem

Takeaway_Addict

Dox wrote: »

No idea if your workplace would cover this sort of accident - ask them. They may have insurance for just this sort of event.

If charging a phone in the kitchen was specifically not allowed, they won't pay - and unlikely you would have to if he acted in breach of company regulations.

Forget the idea of negligence because there was no case etc.

Not a chance.....

theoretica

You knocked the broom over - what about the person who left the broom unstable and where it shouldn't have been?



Also 'He is going to check the security cameras' over this? That sounds like bad practice, and potentially misuse.

ohreally

Check the policy re bringing personal phones into the kitchen. I have a suspicion this may be prohibited.

Regardless he should have been more diligent with a high value item at work.

sangie595

I don't leave my expensive smart phone where anyone could just pick it up and walk off with it. Which is where it was if all this happened and he didn't even notice. That is his negligence. His fault. He should have insurance for his phone. If he doesn't, or if they won't pay out because of his negligence, that isn't your problem.

ceecee1

It should not be quite so simple as him just 'viewing the CCTV' there are strict regulations as to who has authorisation to view CCTV and your employer could be in breach if they do not adhere to them