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I HAVE DRIVE OFF SHORTAGES OF GAS AT OUR GAS STATION. CAN I LEGALLY TAKE THESE SHORTAGES OUT OF MY EMPLOYEE'S WAGES. IF SO, ...

I HAVE DRIVE OFF SHORTAGES OF GAS AT OUR GAS STATION. CAN I LEGALLY TAKE THESE SHORTAGES OUT OF MY EMPLOYEE'S WAGES. IF SO, ...

Q: Can an employer make you pay back a short drawer?

No, an employer cannot require you to pay back a short drawer if it results in your wages falling below minimum wage or overtime pay. Employers must absorb these losses and cannot deduct them from your pay, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the shortage.

Q: Can my employer make me pay for something I broke?

Generally, an employer cannot make you pay for something you broke if it would reduce your earnings below the minimum wage or overtime pay. Employers are responsible for the costs of business operations, including damages caused by employees, unless there is clear negligence involved.

Q: Can your employer make you pay if your drawer is short?

An employer cannot make you pay for a short drawer if it would bring your wages below the minimum wage or overtime pay. Employers are not allowed to deduct these amounts from your pay, as they are responsible for covering any losses incurred in the business.

Q: What happens if a cashier is short?

If a cashier is short, the employer typically absorbs the loss and cannot deduct the shortage from the cashier's wages. Deductions that lower wages below minimum wage or overtime pay are illegal, regardless of the reason for the shortage.

Q: Can you make an employee pay for cash shortages?

No, you cannot make an employee pay for cash shortages if it would reduce their earnings below the legal minimum wage or overtime pay. Employers must handle cash shortages and cannot pass these losses onto employees through wage deductions.

Full question:

I HAVE DRIVE OFF SHORTAGES OF GAS AT OUR GAS STATION. CAN I LEGALLY TAKE THESE SHORTAGES OUT OF MY EMPLOYEE'S WAGES. IF SO, IS THERE A PERCENTAGE THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OR ARE THEY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL SHORTAGES.

Category: Employment
Date: 04/07/2025
State: Virginia

Answer:

No deduction may be made from an employee's wages which would reduce the employee's earnings below the required minimum wage or overtime compensation. Employees may not be required to pay for any of the cost of such losses if, by so doing, their wages would be reduced below the required minimum wage or overtime compensation. This is true even if an economic loss suffered by the employer is due to the employee's negligence. Employers may not avoid minimum wage and overtime requirements by having the employee reimburse the employer in cash for the cost of such items in lieu of deducting the cost from the employee's wages.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

Do you have to pay if your register is short?

If your register is short, you typically do not have to pay the difference from your wages. Employers cannot deduct amounts from your pay that would reduce your earnings below minimum wage or overtime pay. This includes cash shortages, even if they occur due to your actions. Employers are responsible for covering these losses, not employees.