Your employer is required by law to deduct things such as income tax, insurance against unemployment (EI), Canada Pension Plan contributions, or union dues. 

Also, if you give your written permission, your employer may make deductions for things like health and dental plans, and company pension plan contributions.

But you employer cannot deduct any part of your wages for any reason unless allowed or required by the law. 

For example, you cannot be required to pay for such things as:

• gas-and-dash, where someone fills their vehicle with gas and then drives away without paying
• dine-and-dash, where someone eats a meal and then leaves without paying
• shoplifting, where someone leaves the store with something he or she hasn’t paid for
• on-the-job accidents, where employer vehicles or equipment are damaged during work hours.

If your employer demands you to pay for any of these things, contact the Employment Standards Branch. The Employment Standards Branch can order your employer to return your money, including tips. 

If your employer tells you he or she cannot pay you your salary this month because he or she is making renovations, he is breaking the law.

Your employer cannot deduct accidental overpayments from your pay cheque unless you give him or her written permission. For example, if your employer accidentally paid you $100 too much on a pay cheque, he or she cannot take $100 off of your next pay cheque unless you agree.

This article is a brief introduction to some of the laws about working in BC. For more detailed information, go to the website of the Employment Standards Branch at: www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb/

 
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