Am i allowed to reduce an employees hours due to violation of employer policies
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Am i allowed to reduce an employees hours due to violation of employer policies
All of our employees have
been warned they would ne
fired if money was not
accounted for we decided to
give employee a hour
deduction rather than
firing her
Asked on January 13, 2017 under Employment Labor Law, Pennsylvania
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
If by an "hour deduction" you mean that you deducted an hour's pay from this worker's pay, then that would be illegal (unless the employee agreed to it in writing). However, if you mean that you penalized them by reducing their schediled hours by an hour, then that would be legal. Unless this worker is covered by an employment contract or union agreement, you can reduce hours, pay rate, etc. at will (i.e. as you see fit) for any reason or no reson at all, with or without notice.
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
Unless there is a currently in-effect (e.g. not expired) employment contract which specifies the number of hours, as the employer, you may change employee hours at will, for any reason. So you may reduce the hours as a punishment for violating policy (or suspend her; or reduce her wage or salary; etc.).
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