Can employers deduct from employees' pay to cover uniform costs?

Q           Can an employer have employees sign an agreement authorizing the employer to deduct from employees’ paychecks to cover the cost of employee uniforms?

Yes, reducing such agreements to writing is advisable, but pursuant to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the deductions in a given pay period can’t reduce the employee’s wages below minimum wage. So, depending on the employee’s regular rate of pay and the cost of the uniform, deductions may need to be spread out over several pay periods so as not to reduce the employee’s pay below the federal minimum wage. 

Mississippi doesn’t have a state minimum wage above the FLSA rate, nor does it have a law pertaining to deductions from pay, but some states have one or both, and such laws should be checked before making deductions for uniform costs.             

Martin J. Regimbal is a shareholder of The Kullman Firm and may be reached at mjr@kullmanlaw.com.