Location: Maine
Some context: my husband quit his job after being told by a manger to “meet me behind the truck” after a mild argument. My husband took this as a physical threat and claimed he felt unsafe at the job at that point.
Today we got a certified letter in the mail stating he owes them 413 dollars. This is what the letter says:
As part of our standard offboarding process and pursuant to company policy, we conducted a review of company-issued property and final expense records. It has come to our attention that, as of the date of your separation, the following items remain unreturned or unresolved:
• Uniforms- You are missing a total of 5 shirts, 7 pants and 1 jacket. This amount has been confirmed with Cintas. Only 2 shirts were found in your van.
• Reimbursement for unauthorized purchase of personal tools – A total of $413.35 was charged to the company credit card for personal tools without prior written authorization, in violation of company policy. This amount remains outstanding and must be reimbursed in full. Please be advised that the company requires the immediate return of all company property and the reimbursement of any unauthorized charges. If these matters are not resolved by August 6, 2025, you will be invoiced for the outstanding amounts, and the matter may be referred to a third-party collections agency. The company also reserves the right to pursue all legal remedies to recover the costs associated with the replacement or recovery of these items.
We appreciate your prompt attention and cooperation. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
The issue is the tool were purchased as tool replacements for personal tools be brought with on jobs that were damaged/broken. It has long been the company policy to replace personal tools damaged on the job and the ownership of that tool remains the tech. He had a conversation with his direct report in person in which she told him to go ahead and replace what he needed and she would take care of it on her end. This was simply a conversation he had and would be a his word against hers.
The uniforms, we literally returned everything he had all of it. If it was damaged he would bring it in for replacement but never get anything back. I’m not sure how to return things they already have.
His new employer told him they would replace any tools if this company was going to be a pain about it. He would really prefer not to bring this to his new boss, and it doesn’t seem like they want to tools back just the money. Is there any action we can take to avoid paying?
Comments
If your husband did not get the ‘go ahead’ to buy new tools in writing from his direct report person, then he is on the hook for the cost that was charged to the company. You absolutely never, ever, never spend money on a company credit card unless you have written permission to do so. Im kinda surprised they aren’t making a bigger stink about that, honestly.
And no, they don’t want your used tools. They want to be fully reimbursed. And there absolutely no way I would bring this to my new employer. EVER.
As far as the uniforms, if it was in the company handbook that he would be responsible for x amount of uniforms, etc. then he needs to either produce the items or pay for them.