Can my employer cut my pay because I stepped down from my position?
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Can my employer cut my pay because I stepped down from my position?
I recently stepped down from my supervisor position at work due to health reasons caused by stress from that position. When I inquired about my pay being affected my direct supervisor said that my pay will be cut. I never agreed to this pay cut be it verbally or in writing. Is it legal within for a company to cut my pay because I stepped down from my position due to health reasons? Also, can they cut my pay under state labor law if I did not agree to it either verbally or in writing?
Asked on September 20, 2017 under Employment Labor Law, California
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
Your pay can be cut unless doing so violates the terms of a union agreement or employment contract. The fact is that most work is "at will" which means that a company can set the conditions of the workplace much as it sees fit (absent some form of actionable discrimination). Accordingly, your pay can be decreased due to stepping down to a lower paying position, no matter what the reason.
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