When California Employers Take Unlawful Wage Deductions
You understand why your employer deducts money from your paycheck for items such as the following:
- Federal income tax
- Medicare
- State income tax
- Health insurance
- Retirement co-pay
But you may suspect that something is wrong when you see an unlawful wage deduction such as these listed on your pay stub:
- Uniform fees
- Reimbursement for tools or equipment that were broken or lost while you were using them
- Reimbursement for expenses for an auto accident that occurred while you were driving a company car
- Reimbursement for amounts by which cash registers have come up short
- Payroll cashing fee
Contact our California employment law firm to discuss your concerns with one of our lawyers. Evening and weekend appointments are available by appointment. Our employment law attorneys were formerly employed as in-house counsel for major corporations and have extensive experience in this area. Learn what your rights and obligations are and what your employer is and is not allowed to deduct from your paycheck.
Generally speaking, your employer is not supposed to deduct reimbursement for cash register shortages or broken tools from your paycheck. They may ask you to pay for items such as these, but your pay is rightfully yours and is a separate matter from their requests that you pay for something such as ruined merchandise. Similarly, liability for an auto accident that occurred with a company vehicle is something to be determined apart from your paycheck.
Guard Against Retaliation
It is natural for you to worry about losing your job or losing your employer's good favor if you complain about an unlawful wage deduction from your paycheck. Talk to a lawyer at Sullivan Taketa LLP to learn how to protect yourself from the possibility of retaliation by way of discharge, demotion or creating a hostile work environment when you question the unlawful deductions.
If these unlawful deductions have been taking place over a long period of time, you may be entitled to compensation to make up for the money taken from your pay. If other employees are also affected, joining in a class action may be appropriate.
To Discuss an Employer's Unlawful Deductions, Contact a California Law Firm
Contact our law firm to schedule a no-fee, no-obligation consultation with a lawyer if your California employer has made regular, unlawful wage deductions such as a payroll fee. We handle claims, lawsuits and class actions involving a variety of employment law matters including wage and hour matters.
Sullivan Taketa LLP's attorneys and staff in Westlake Village include individuals proficient in Spanish, Vietnamese, German, French and Italian.
