Is it legal to take a large amount of money out of my paycheck for being late?

[eenablem]

I am a hairstylist paid strictly on commission. Recently my boss enacted a policy where if an employee is more than 5 minutes late to work, she will take the entire amount for the first service the employee performs, eg: if the first client is a haircut ($80) she will take the entire charge, if the first client is a highlight ($135 and up) she will take the entire charge, etc. This seems entirely illegal to me but I don't know how to prove this to her. Help!

[antkmom]

WOW! This sounds illegal to me also. I would definitely check into this if I were you. I can see being docked for being late if you are paid hourly, but if you work strictly work on commissions it is your loss if you are late.

[redeye59]

unless she has it in writing and you signed it! Most states ahve a law that you are docked the first 10-15 minutes of the hour you are late, and then accordingly. So if you are 5 minutes late you would only lose 10-15 minutes. Most companies I have owrked for go by qtr time increments.

I think the women is scamming you and would look for another place of employment..and report her to BBC! Thats just so out of line!

AND I can tell you if I was in NY, I would never give that lady any of my business, she bilks her employees!!!

[Rachel Murray]

The same thing has been happening to my husband, except nothing is in writing, and it is a different amount docked from his pay each time he is late. They did it without discussing it with him, and we are trying to figure out what to do next.