Can my employer recover damages from me?

Questioner

I damaged a bus belonging to my ex-employer at work with an excavator and after I resigned, he now withholds wages to offset the damage. Is this allowed?

Lawyer

Not just like that. The employee is in principle only liable to the employer for damage caused if there is intent or conscious recklessness. If this was not the case in your case, and I assume that it is, then wages were wrongly withheld. You should send a registered letter in which the employer is summoned to pay the outstanding wages within a reasonable period. You can probably also claim the statutory late payment compensation (which increases to 50% over time) and statutory interest. If you would like to discuss this, please call the undersigned.