Employees have a variety of rights to protect themselves against employer misconduct. Among these rights are protections against illegal paycheck deductions. While tax deductions on your paycheck are standard, any other deductions you notice may not be authorized. A St. Paul illegal paycheck deductions attorney can help you identify if you have been victimized.
At Madia Law, we have been helping employees protect their rights in Minnesota for years. Our firm has handled countless illegal paycheck deduction cases, and our team will do everything in our power to ensure you recover the money you lost. Reach out to us today to schedule your free case review with one of our experienced employment lawyers in St. Paul.
The Difference Between Legal and Illegal Paycheck Deductions
When you receive a paycheck from your employer, you will notice deductions have been taken from your earnings. Standard tax deductions are taken from all workers and are entirely legal. However, the legality of other deductions depends on the details of the deduction. Furthermore, even with tax deductions, the withheld amount can be more than the true tax requires.
If your employer illegally deducts money from your paycheck, you have the right to file a lawsuit against your employer to recover the money you lost.
Determining whether a deduction is legal or not can be challenging in many cases. Fortunately, an experienced attorney can help. Aside from standard tax deductions, other circumstances under which paycheck deductions are legal include:
- If a court order requires the garnishing of wages to pay a legal obligation
- If you are employed as a commissioned salesperson and work under rules that allow for performance-related deductions
- If you are part of a labor union that has agreed to a collective bargaining agreement allowing for specific deductions to be made
- If you were responsible for losses sustained by your employer and voluntarily gave written permission to your employer to deduct the losses from your wages or if a court found you liable for the losses
- If you voluntarily gave written permission to your employer to deduct the cost of a loan or purchase from your employer
Legal Deductions Your Employer Must Repay
There are also a variety of deductions your employer can legally make that they will need to repay at the end of your employment. For instance, your employer can deduct up to $50 for uniforms or equipment you rented or purchased as a requirement of your employment. Furthermore, they can deduct the cost of consumable supplies and travel expenses.
However, the deductions they make can not reduce your hourly wage to below minimum wage, and they will need to repay you for all of these deductions at the conclusion of your employment.
For a legal consultation with a illegal paycheck deductions lawyer serving St. Paul, call 612-349-2729
Your Employer May Also Be Guilty of Other Employment Crimes
If your employer willfully made illegal deductions from your paycheck, there is a high chance that they are taking other illegal actions to increase their profit. An experienced illegal paycheck deductions attorney serving St. Paul can thoroughly investigate your employer to determine if they violated your rights in any other manner.
Some of the most common other types of employment law violations include:
- Workplace discrimination
- Unpaid overtime
- Wrongful termination
- Minimum wage violations
If you suffer any form of employment violation, you need to get help from an experienced employment attorney to ensure you recover the money you need and hold your employer accountable for their actions.
St. Paul Illegal Paycheck Deductions Lawyer Near Me 612-349-2729
Be Mindful of the Filing Deadline for Your Illegal Paycheck Deductions Lawsuit
When working to recover money after suffering illegal paycheck deductions, it is vital that you hire an experienced illegal paycheck deductions lawyer in St. Paul soon after you discover what your employer did. Your attorney will ensure that all your paperwork is prepared and filed well before the deadline to give you the best chance of getting a positive case result.
According to Minnesota law, those who suffered losses caused by illegal paycheck deductions have two years to file a lawsuit against their employers. However, this deadline can be extended to three years if you can prove that your employer willfully violated the law.
Acting quickly after discovering the illegal deductions is essential. In these lawsuits, a “look back period” applies to your case, limiting the period for which you can recover damages to the corresponding two or three years before the filing date. Because of this, waiting until you are near the filing deadline can limit your recovery period to a single paycheck or two.
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Work With an Experienced St. Paul Illegal Paycheck Deductions Attorney Today
When attempting to recover compensation for illegal paycheck deductions, hiring an experienced lawyer is crucial. While you have the right to represent yourself in your pursuit of compensation, your chances of recovering the money you need will increase drastically with a legal professional by your side.
At Madia Law, we never shy away from taking a case to court and have a proven track record of winning big at trial. Contact us today by giving us a call or completing our online contact form and schedule your free case review with a member of our legal team.
Call 612-349-2729 or complete a Case Evaluation form
