ย #NYemployment #uniforms #lastpaycheck
Hey everyone! ๐ So I recently quit my job and was told that I wouldn’t receive my last paycheck until I returned my work uniforms. I did that, but I still haven’t gotten paid. ๐ค
After doing some research, it seems like withholding my last check for the return of uniforms might actually be illegal in New York. Can anyone confirm this?
I’m feeling a bit confused about the situation. If anyone has any advice or insights on how to handle this, it would be greatly appreciated! ๐ Let’s help each other out!
Possible solutions:
– Contact the New York State Department of Labor for clarification
– Reach out to a legal professional for advice on next steps
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts! ๐
Correct, it is illegal to withhold your check. The can deduct the cost of uniforms, but I am assuming you had someone sign a return receipt of some sort. Send one follow up call or email regarding your wages, and if no response, file with the state.
DEPT OF LABOR is your friend. They donโt take kindly to withholding your pay. What your boss is doing is illegal
NY has very solid regulations related to paychecks. There is almost nothing an employer can deduct from an employee’s check other than required taxes and benefits.
They also can’t withhold your check. It’s actually a crime in NY.
This exact thing happened to my daughter.
Owner told her on the phone that there was no check to pick up because the bookkeeper didn’t make my daughter one due to her not paying for the required uniform. My kiddo sent them a copy of the law with a text saying she would be contacting the DOL in the morning. Ten minutes later, the owner texted back that the check was at the retail shop waiting for her to come pick it up anytime she wanted and to not worry about paying for the shirt since she had already returned it.
To add to this, if the uniform has the logo of the employer, then it is considered a benefit to the employer and although they may be able to deduct the cost of the uniform depending on the state, it usually doesnโt not go well for the employer to deduct for uniforms as they are considered a cost of doing business. Withholding a check because of failure to return a uniform is begging for trouble.
completely illegal
This is illegal federally. I think NY has even stricter laws.
Is this a valet parking? Are u a union member?
I used to work in TV news in the South, out in the heat as a news photog. Most stations don’t ask for station-branded shirts back when you leave, because they’re usually too nasty and worn out to reuse.
But there was one station that threatened to hold every quitting photog’s last check until they were returned. They gave everybody new shirts when they were hired, so they weren’t planning to reuse them. Apparently they were just afraid of us out there giving the station a bad name after we left.
One guy called their bluff and said he lost them all moving to his next market. They had no choice but to pay him his last check.
Then he put them on eBay. He had heard from another photog that the station might bid on “stolen” shirts to get them back, and sure enough they did. So he enlisted some friends to run up the bids, and the station ended up paying more than retail to win the auction.
Management made a lot of noise about getting police involved, but they were full of shit. Those of us who knew about it spread the story all around for maximum embarrassment.
I wore a company jacket for work. When I quit, they held the check until I returned the jacket. When I returned it the following Monday, they held the check for โcleaningโ & fees. Never received my last check. Iโd weigh the pros & cons – is it a bug check? Can you wear the uniform elsewhere? Do you trust them to actually give you the last check after you turn it in?