Your pay rate is probably a big reason why you took your job. You knew you needed to find employment that would cover your bills, and this job pays enough to meet the requirements of your budget. You certainly would like to earn more, but you need to earn at least as much as you’re making.
That’s why it’s so concerning when your boss talks to you about reducing your wages. You wouldn’t have even taken the job at a lower pay rate. Can your boss cut your pay after you’re already in the position?
Reducing future wages
Typically, an employer can reduce wages. Maybe the business isn’t making enough money to pay everyone. Rather than firing workers, they’re reducing pay rates across the board.
There are a few stipulations, however. For one thing, the pay reduction can only apply to hours that you haven’t worked yet. Your boss can’t reduce pay for hours that are already on the books. Maybe you have already logged a week of work that you haven’t been paid for. They can’t tell you that you are now going to get half as much money for those hours.
Additionally, the reason for the pay reduction must be legal. It can’t be discriminatory in nature. For instance, if you get pregnant and your boss tells you they’re going to cut your pay, that may be illegal. It would also be illegal if your boss decided to cut the pay of all workers of the same ethnic background. Discrimination is still illegal, even if cutting pay itself is not.
Your legal options
Do you feel that you’ve been discriminated against or that your boss has illegally reduced your pay? If so, take the time to look into the legal options at your disposal.