united-states employment liability security
Is employer liable for theft of personal property
<p>If I bring say my headphones to my work, and they are stolen under the following circumstances, can I legally sue my employer and prevail, i.e. they have a duty to provide reasonable safety and security?
Stolen when I:</p>

<ul>
<li>walk away from my desk during normal business.</li>
<li>keep them overnight, unlocked, as my employer does not provide
lockable desks.</li>
<li>keep them overnight, locked, but the key is not unique.</li>
<li>keep them on my desk overnight in plain site.</li>
<li>keep them overnight, locked, but the lock was broken.</li>
</ul>

<p>If the headphones were essential safety gear or necessary for the performance of your duties then your employer <em>might</em> have a duty to provide reasonable means for you to protect them from theft and <em>may</em> be obliged to replace them if they were stolen. Such liability <em>may</em> be reduced to the extent of any contributory negligence on the employee.</p>

<p>If the employer did not require the employee to provide the headphones then they have no duty towards them.</p>
