Can my employer charge for mistakes?

Question

I work at a pizza franchise in Washington state and if one of us makes a mistake, that person gets the mistake deducted from their paycheck. Is that legal? If it isn't, please send me a link with more information.

Answer 1

Sorry, I can' t send you to a link but your employer would need to inform you of their rule concerning errors at the time of employment.

Upside, if you have to buy it, you take it home.....

Answer 2

It ABSOLUTELY is not legal.

In WA, an employer can not deduct wages for damage or loss.

Here's the best link I could find:

(whoops, had wrong link...fixed now)

http://www.lni.wa.gov/WorkplaceRights/Ru...

read the examples at the very bottom of the page. Your situation would be similar to #4.

You can call WA L&I to verify you're in the right. All employees who this has actually happened to, can file claims. WA L&I is quick, and no-nonsense...they'll put a stop to it VERY QUICKLY.  They can even fine the employer.

Of couse, you can get FIRED for making mistakes, but in WA state, they can't touch your pay.

Answer 3

Why should your mistakes cost your employer money?

Answer 4

I live in Canada, and I know it's illegal to do so, in Canada. I'm not sure about the US. I think the rationale is that the employee is not responsible for the risks of the business owner. He or she takes a risk by hiring an employee, and he is responsible for the possible consequences of that risk.

According to this link, I am right. It is illegal in most states to deduct employees for their mistakes. Just look down the page on this link.

http://72.30.186.56/search/cache?ei=UTF-...

I would call your state labor board, though, just to confirm.