What to do if an employee quit but did not return the office key and we have their final paycheck?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What to do if an employee quit but did not return the office key and we have their final paycheck?
She did not return the key to the office. We have her final check. We have asked her to pick up the check at the office and drop off the key. She said she mailed the key and wants her check. It’s been 10 days and we have not received the key in the mail. What should we do? Can we deduct the cost of a new lock for the office if we do not receive the key?
Asked on February 17, 2015 under Employment Labor Law, Maryland
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 9 years ago | Contributor
Absent a pre-existing agreement to the contrary, you cannot withhold or make deductions from an employee's final paycheck. You can however, try and charge her for the coat of re-keying and possibly take her to small claims court to recover your expenses, if necessary (if it's worth your time and trouble).
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.