Legal Question in Employment Law in Washington

Deducting Expenses from Paycheck

My company offers a plan for us employees to include our spouses or other family members a cell phone and the charges are deducted from my check. I added my daughter back in January. Since January, I have had $40 per month taken from my check.

Last Friday, my paycheck had $83 taken out for cell phone and I am told another $83 will be taken out on my next check in two weeks for a total of $166 for the month. I am also told that they were never taking anything out on my daughter.

My question is....Can they do this? I understood it that I was being charged for my daughters phone. I was also not given any kind of notice or written explanation as to the charges and why they were taking them out. It seems to me the company made a mistake or oversight. But should I have to get nailed for this 8 months later. This came as a total surprise to me.


Asked on 11/08/07, 5:10 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Susan Beecher Susan L. Beecher, Atty at Law

Re: Deducting Expenses from Paycheck

You have a right to an itemized explanation of what is being deducted from your check. If something was withheld inappropriately, you have right to be reimbursed.

Be sure you are talking to someone who is in authority on this matter and can give you accurate information. (For example, your immediate supervisor may not have clear information about what is being withheld from your check, and in that case, he or she would not be the right person to ask.) If no one is giving you a clear and satisfactory answer, call the Department of Labor and Industries. They will assist workers who are not being paid their full wages.

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Answered on 11/08/07, 5:22 pm


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