Can your employer change your pay without discussing it with you?

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Can your employer change your pay without discussing it with you?

I was sent a text from my boss a night before being paid, that my paychecks will only be based on commission. All other paychecks before were based on an hourly rate plus commission that both employer and employee agreed to. I understand that they can change the pay but is it legal to do so without prior notice to being paid?

Asked on March 2, 2019 under Employment Labor Law, Louisiana

Answers:

M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 5 years ago | Contributor

Absent an employment contract or union agreement to the contrary, an employer can decrease a worker's rate of pay. That having been said, it can only do so for work yet to be performed; it cannot decrease pay after the fact. In other words, retroactive wage reductions are illegal. A worker must first be informed of such a decrease prior to perfoming any further work duties. This way if the decrease is not acceptable to them they have the option of quitting before working for less.


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