Can my boss deduct money out of my check without my permission?
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Can my boss deduct money out of my check without my permission?
We were working on a job and while trimming a yard, a rock broke the window on his truck. He said no big deal but I recently quit and he took the money out of my check leaving me short on bills that I need to pay.
Asked on April 6, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, Missouri
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
No, your boss may not do this. An employer may not deduct or withhold money, including from a final paycheck, without the employee's permission, other than those deductions specifically required by law (such as FICA withholding or a court-ordered wage garnishment). If the employer feels you carelessly (negligently) broke his window, his recourse was to sue you for the money.
To recover the money he took from you, you could sue your employer. One option is to sue him in small claims court, where you could act as your own attorney (no legal fees), filing fees are low, and cases generally move faster.
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