What options do I have if my employer handed mea written notice of a 25% decrease in my pay to start in 30 days?
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What options do I have if my employer handed mea written notice of a 25% decrease in my pay to start in 30 days?
Asked on February 24, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, Minnesota
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
As a general matter, you would have no options other than to seek alternate employment. An employer is free to set employee wages, and to increase or decrease them, at will, and does not even need to provide notice. The exceptions would be:
1) if you have an employment contract or union agreement, your wages cannot be decreased in violation of it.
2) You must be paid at least minimum wage.
3) You cannot have your wages decreased because you are a member of a protected group--that is, you wages cannot be decreased because of your race, sex, religion, age over 40, or disability, for example.
4) Your wages cannot be decreased for using a protected benefit (like FMLA leave) or filing a protected claim (such as for overtime, or that you were the victim of discrimination).
Other than the above, though, your employer should be able to reduce your wages.
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