Legal Question in Employment Law in Pennsylvania
Pay deductions
Can a employer take worked hours off your paycheck without reason.
At my job we do not have a handbook. Everyone is treated differently depending on who they are and what they do. Rules change just to meet the needs of the supervisor at any given time. Thus, brings me to the question. Can a supervisor just determine that he will dock you hours already worked as a disciplinary action without a written warning or any other verbal warning?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Pay deductions
You asked about changes made to time after submission to an employer.
Generally, employers are prohibited by statute, common law and regulation from making any unilateral changes to time once it has been completed by an employee. In some cases they can discuss changes with an employee, but generally they cannot force changes, nor can they makes changes at any time once the time has been documented.
Employers that change time on employees are flirting with violation of the law including charges of fraud, conversion, wage and hour violations, and civil claims.
Most often the matter can be solved by escalating the matter up the chain of command. Many companies have a compliance officer and discussion with that person (where such conversation should be confidential) may help resolve the problem. Other you can bring the claim to the state wage and hour authorities.
Regards,
Roger