STAFF BROKE VASE & SPENT OWN MONEY TO REPLACE, BOSS DEDUCT HER WHOLE MONTH PAY

Can my boss deduct a whole month’s salary because I broke a vase on the job?

Hi, writing for a friend here.

She’s been working for a cleaning company for a year now. For the first time she broke a vase while on the job. The client was upset and refused to pay the cleaning fee.

Also the client said the vase was gift so she doesn’t know where it’s from or how much it’s worth.

Well, my friend’s boss decided to deduct a whole month’s salary because of this incident. And the boss told her to find the vase and buy it. So she found one that’s similar which cost $100 and has purchased it out of pocket.

Plus her boss already deducted 50% of her May salary and plans to deduct another 50% of her June salary. Her contract ends in June.

Netizens’ comments

1. complain MOM and NTUC
   they will step in
   engregrious employers like this, need to be punished
2. The loss of vase is supposedly handled by her boss, not her. If the client refused to pay the company for the cleaning service, the boss have to handle that responsibility. This boss refuse to take accountability for any loss, that’s what this whole situation is all about.
   If the boss is extremely upset over the incident, he has the grounds to terminate her employment. But making her work with 2 months of salary deduction is outright exploitation. I hate bosses like this. Counting dollars and cents with employees with zero accountability, as someone whom is supposed to lead their business and the employees whom supports their business.
3. Horrible boss, how much can a vase cost? To deduct her entire salary. Report him to MOM, TAFEP, NTUC UNION, TADM, raise her case to her MP, do whatever possible to get the company exposed for such practices. Have evidence such as payslips of deductions so the boss can’t defend.
4. Assuming the client is not claiming damages for the broken vase, and as satisfied with the replaced vase, and the deducted salary is not going towards addressing this issue, then this is improper. But please bear in mind any employment contract. If your friend is not properly employed for not having the appropriate work visas or for moonlighting, he/she should be cautious of such tactics.
   It seems like the boss is using this as an excuse to save some money. Please make a claim with NTUC and MOM. At the very least get the salary you are owed.
   Breaking of a vase is a business risk that all companies face. They should factor accidents into their budget and business plan.