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Can my employer dock my pay for making mistakes that cost the company to fix?

I am a salary plus commission salesperson in Washington state. My employer has threatened to take $50 from all our sales people if they make a mistake that costs the company to make a second trip or reorder product to fix. is this legal?

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Attorney answers (1)

Reputation Level 13
Under the circumstances you describe, no, it is not legal for the company to deduct from your pay. It is difficult to advise you about what to do about it. You can report your employer to the Depart of Labor & Industries, or hire a private attorney, if the employer does withhold your pay. If your employer fires you for reporting, this would also be illegal. But as a practical matter, you would have to be able to show convincing evidence that this was the motivation, and meanwhile, you would be unemployed.

So those are your rights, but enforcing them will be tough.

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