Can An Employer Make You Pay For Something?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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You cannot force an employee to pay,

only make a request

. The difference between “requesting” and “forcing” is that one requires a willful act of the employee. If an employee does not honor the employer’s request to pay for damages, you must decide if termination is in order.

Is it illegal for your employer to pay you less?


It is against the law for employers to pay employees less than the minimum wage

. If your employer violates minimum wage laws, you can recover the money you are owed in a wage and hour lawsuit or a wage and hour class action lawsuit.

Can my employer make me pay for shortages?

Without your consent,

an employer cannot deduct pay or demand reimbursement for shortages

. … However, an employer can discipline you, or even fire you, for cash register shortages. If you do consent to wage deductions, the only limit on the amount is if it’s to repay a cash advance.

Are employers allowed to deduct for shortages or breakage?

A. No,

your employer cannot legally make such a deduction from your wages

if, by reason of mistake or accident a cash shortage, breakage, or loss of company property/equipment occurs. … Under this regulation, a simple accusation does not give the employer the right to make the deduction.

Can a company dock your pay?


Your boss is indeed legally allowed to reduce or dock your pay

. … There are cases when reducing someone’s promised pay can run afoul of labor laws. In most cases, it’s easier to dock the pay of an hourly worker than that of a salaried employee.

How long can a company not pay you?

The waiting time penalty provides an employee with payment equal to one day’s wages for every day of late payment – capped

at 30 days

. California employers may make standard deductions from a final paycheck.

What happens if I refuse a pay cut?

“They are not obliged to give their consent, and they could take legal action to prevent such a change.” This means if your employer wants to cut your pay,

they have to ask for your permission first

. You can refuse a drop in wages, but you would be risking termination of your contract completely.

Do I have to pay my employer back if they overpaid me?

The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (1938)

give companies the legal right to garnish an employee’s wages to reclaim overpayments

. … It is illegal for a California company to garnish your wages to recover overpayments.

Can my employer deduct money from my wages without my consent?

Both federal and state payroll deductions

laws prohibit employers from making wage deductions that are illegal

. If an employer has made illegal deductions from an employee’s wages, the employer may file a complaint.

How much can an employer deduct from wages?

The amount that can be garnished is limited to no more than either:

25 percent of your employee’s disposable earnings

(meaning, earnings after legally required deductions like payroll taxes, workers’ compensation, or unemployment compensation premiums);or.

Can an employer dock pay for poor performance?

Since an employee entered into a mutual agreement to exchange labor for a fixed wage, it would be unlawful for the employer to dock wages for unsatisfactory performance. However, an employer can lawfully alter an employee’s wage going forward.

Can my employer deduct money from my paycheck for a mistake that I made?

No.

Your employer cannot deduct from your wages

to pay for mistakes. Only if you agree (in writing) that your employer can deduct from your pay for the mistake. … Deductions must be for your benefit (and agreed to in writing), or done to comply with some aspect of state or federal law.

Is it legal for an employer to deduct hours?


No, you cannot deduct any time from an employee’s working time

unless the employee is actually not working. … Under federal law, an employer can deduct time for lunch only if the employee has a lunch break of at least 30 minutes and has no work duties during that time.

Do I get paid for the day I was fired?

If you are fired, laid off, or otherwise involuntarily separated from your job,

you are entitled to your final paycheck immediately

(that is, at the time of your firing or layoff). Your employer may not wait until the next scheduled payday or even the next calendar day to pay you what you are owed.

Can I sue for not getting paid on time?


Yes

. An employee who is owed unpaid wages can file a lawsuit against their employer to recover unpaid wages, in addition to other damages provided by law. An employer who pays late wages or fails to make final payments available is in violation of California wage and hour laws.

What to do when an employer refuses to pay you?

Contact your employer (preferably in writing) and ask for the wages owed to you. If your employer refuses to do so, consider

filing a claim with your state’s labor agency

. File a suit in small claims court or superior court for the amount owed.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.