Is an employer allowed to withhold wages from an employee?

In the state of Virginia, employers are generally not allowed to withhold wages from an employee. This is a form of wage theft, which is illegal and strongly discouraged. Employers can be held liable if they do not pay wages in full and on time as dictated by the Virginia Payment of Wages Act. That said, there are certain circumstances where employers may have the right to withhold wages from employees. For example, employers may be able to withhold wages if the employee has agreed to it in an employment contract. This could include a situation in which the employee agrees to a deduction from their paycheck if part of their job duties are not fulfilled. Employers may also be able to withhold wages as a form of disciplinary action, such as when an employee has committed some form of wrongdoing or violated company policies. However, any such action needs to be agreed upon with the employee before it can be legally enforced. Overall, withholding wages from an employee is not recommended and should only be done in extreme circumstances with prior agreement.

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