Can my manager legally take my paycheck without my permission?
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Can my manager legally take my paycheck without my permission?
I am a 1099 employee and initially wanted an advance from the company. Instead my manager wrote me a personal check. We agreed on payback over the course of the next 2 weeks. He took it upon
himself to have our commissions department transfer my accounts to him and took my paycheck for the
week. What actions can I take, of any?
Asked on November 10, 2016 under Employment Labor Law, South Carolina
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
Legally, no, he cannot do this unless you had agreed to let him do (e.g. it was part of the loan agreement). In theory, you could take legal action (e.g. sue) for the money; in practice, there is probably no reason to do so, however: if you sue him for the money, he will likely countersue you for the money you owe him under the loan, since by time the case comes up, the two-week repayment period will be up and you'll have to pay--you will end up netting out to approximately the same place, if you make him return the paycheck, but then he forces you to pay the loan (unless, that is, the money you borrowed is substantially less than the paycheck he took; in that case, legal action woudl seem worthwhile).
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