"Fining" Employees

GoPatsNH

Can employers "fine" their employees for violations of workplace policy by deducting from their pay? For instance, our employees often forget to clock in and out, which costs us time and resources, and is clearly against our company's written policy. Can we fine our employees for this somehow?

 

countrygirl

I would shy away from such a practice...fining employees is very complicated under federal law, and some states have their own laws about taking deductions from employees' checks as a form of discipline. There are probably other ways to discipline employees that are less risky...for example, going through all the steps of a progressive discipline program.

Dfox

I agree with countrygirl.  In Illinois you cannot deduct such a fine from an employee's pay.  I would treat this as a disciplinary action.  The first offense would be a verbal warning, the second offense a written warning, and if there is a third offense, probation with possible termination.