Illegal Deductions from Employee Wages

Some employers try to deduct money from employee wages to cover their overhead, which the employer should be responsible for paying. For example, a business may try to deduct money from a server’s tips for such expenses as uniforms, register shortages, walk-outs, returned food, broken plates, or damaged property. If such deductions cause a worker’s hourly wage to fall below the applicable minimum wage, the deduction may be illegal. These improper deductions often occur in the hospitality industry where restaurant workers (i.e. waiters, servers, bartenders, busboys, food runners) are paid at or below the minimum wage for each hour worked. In those situations involving hospitality employees, any deduction may be an illegal deduction, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Florida minimum wage law. If your employer has been making questionable deductions from your pay or your tips, contact a wage and hour lawyer at Bober & Bober, P.A. at 800-995-WAGE for a free consultation.