What Can My Employer Deduct From My Paycheck and When Does An Employer Have to Reimburse Business Expenses?
An employer can lawfully withhold amounts from an employee’s wages only: (1) when required or empowered to do so by state or federal law, or (2) when a deduction is expressly authorized in writing by the employee to cover insurance premiums, benefit plan contributions or other deductions not amounting to a rebate on the employee’s wages, or (3) when a deduction to cover health, welfare, or pension contributions is expressly authorized by a wage or collective bargaining agreement. To read more about exempt employees, please see Labor Code, Section 221 and 224 (click here).
Additionally, an employer cannot deduct normal business expenses from an employee’s paycheck. Instead they must reimburse any expenses occurred by the employee. This includes any uniforms and tools required by the employer, personal cell phone and internet service used employment, and work related travel expenses.
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