Can my employer force me to choose Direct Deposit or Prepaid Card?
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Can my employer force me to choose Direct Deposit or Prepaid Card?
My employer has recently provided us with forms to sign up for either direct deposit or prepaid debit cards. Until now we always received paper checks. The terms of the direct deposit are unacceptable to me, as they allow the payroll company to withdraw money from my account for reasons beyond my control. I also do not want a prepaid card due to the fees they charge. I was told I had to pick one or the other. I live and work in Missouri which has no regulations on these types of payment. Only the definition of wage ‘Legal tender or check convertible to legal tender.’ Can I request a paper check or will I be forced to choose their options?
Asked on September 21, 2016 under Employment Labor Law, Missouri
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
You have to choose between their offers: there is no law requiring employers to make payment by paper checks and, in fact, paper checks are increasingly becoming rare--it's not unlikely that in the near future, almost all legitimate businesses will make payment by one form or another of electronic transfer. Unfortunately, it is 100% up to the employer, not the employee, how to pay them.
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