unintended damage to company property - employer wants to deduct from salary

Hi, my husband is a project employee handling technical support for a computer store. One part of his job is to assist customers who have bought large quantities of items by helping them bring the items to their vehicles. Just a few days ago, he was using the company's cart to haul several purchased items. He was doing this slowly to avoid the customers and the displays in the store.  When he was about to get out of the store's door, a customer suddenly went in. (Their store is located inside a mall so foot traffic is heavy.) To avoid colliding with the said customer, he swerved his cart slightly to the opposite direction. However, the momentum was a little strong due to the weight of the items inside the cart. The store's glass door was hit by the edge of the cart, causing it to break. The store owner wants to charge the entire cost of replacing the door (around Php 20k) to my husband.

Is this right? Please give us advice on what we should do/ what our options are.  
   
Appreciate your help!

amethyst03 wrote:Hi, my husband is a project employee handling technical support for a computer store. One part of his job is to assist customers who have bought large quantities of items by helping them bring the items to their vehicles. Just a few days ago, he was using the company's cart to haul several purchased items. He was doing this slowly to avoid the customers and the displays in the store.  When he was about to get out of the store's door, a customer suddenly went in. (Their store is located inside a mall so foot traffic is heavy.) To avoid colliding with the said customer, he swerved his cart slightly to the opposite direction. However, the momentum was a little strong due to the weight of the items inside the cart. The store's glass door was hit by the edge of the cart, causing it to break. The store owner wants to charge the entire cost of replacing the door (around Php 20k) to my husband.

Is this right? Please give us advice on what we should do/ what our options are.  
   
Appreciate your help!

It is unfortunate but this is the right action for the employer. Your husband is somewhat negligent in his act and such is the direct cause of the damage. Your husband has to bear the value of the damage.

Thank you for the response HrDude..
Just a question, shouldn't gross negligence be established first before he is made to pay?

amethyst03 wrote:Thank you for the response HrDude..
Just a question, shouldn't gross negligence be established first before he is made to pay?

NO, identifying the direct cause of the damage is enough to make a person liable for payment. Establishing the existence of Gross Negligence can only be entertained to determine if additional sanction of suspension or termination can be applied.