Legal Question in Employment Law in Washington
legality of withholding pay
I am an 18 year old high school student, and I was recently fired from my job as a busser/host. My employer refuses to pay me pay checks that date back about a month, because my mother ''supposedly'' owes him money.
does he have the right to hold back my pay check because my mom owes him money?
the subject of my mom owing him money is also in debate but not something i will brin up.
with thanks,
a confused teen.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: legality of withholding pay
The reasons that an employer can withhold an employee's pay are strictly limited by state law. For example, even if your mother owed the employer and the reason she owed the employer was debt incurred for your benefit, the withholding that you describe is probably not legal. The law provides for penalties (doubling of the amount improperly withheld) and for your attorney fees if collection action is necessary and successful. I would need to know more about the particular situation to advise.
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