Legality of involuntary salary cut?

[Angrymarshmello]

I'm just curious - is it legal to involuntarily cut someone's salary? My girlfriend's father works for a small company and last week they instituted an across the board (all workers) 10% paycut in everyone's salary. blah If it matters, the state is Texas.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Unless there is a contract, it is their way or the highway

 

[AaronP]

As far as I know, that's illegal without their permission isn't it?

LOL what do you base this on?

 

[vi edit]

If an employer can legally fire/lay off an employee without notice, then I don't see any reason why they can't reduce salary without notice.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Originally posted by: AaronP
As far as I know, that's illegal without their permission isn't it?

LOL what do you base this on?

That's just from what I remember. Thanks for contributing a$$hole.

 

[Jzero]

I think they have to tell you that you can take the cut or take your walking papers, but I without a contract, I don't think it's illegal.

 

[LH]

In the state of Texas its perfectly legal. Just like most states. It might be different in a few others though.

 

[AaronP]

it's not "illegal" even with a contract. It may cause a breah of contract, and open the employer up to civil lititagion, but its not illegal.

 

[Kevin]

Look at it this way, 10% pay cut or outright losing your job.

Market is only getting tighter...

 

[Cyberian]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
I'm just curious - is it legal to involuntarily cut someone's salary? My girlfriend's father works for a small company and last week they instituted an across the board (all workers) 10% paycut in everyone's salary. blah If it matters, the state is Texas.

Is he in a union?

 

[ProUser]

Our company just recently got one of those as well.

Pretty much, take the cut or take a hike. Basically they said "Everyone takes 10% cut, or we cut 9 full positions."

I didn't want to be 1 of the 9, so no complaints here. (Well, not too many)

 

[Quixfire]

This happen at my work, 7% across the board, so now I do 7% less work than before.

 

[Windogg]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
I'm just curious - is it legal to involuntarily cut someone's salary? My girlfriend's father works for a small company and last week they instituted an across the board (all workers) 10% paycut in everyone's salary. blah If it matters, the state is Texas.

I belive Texas is a "at will" state where paycuts and terminations can be done at the discretion of the employer with little recourse.

 

[Tominator]

This is a common practice and has happened to me 4 times in my life. It beats no job at all and keeps the company in business.

I don't like it but if I didn't like it enough I'd quit.

Btw, each and every time I looked and found a better job!

 

[Lvis]

It's not nice, but it's legal in my state. Have to wonder if it's worth it to the company in the long run though. Sure they save a few bucks, but people aren't happy and probably aren't as productive.

 

[Zebo]

You have a contract whether written or not to be paid X amount for doing Y work. Just think of the jobs she turned down based on salary as a factor. I think you should be able to sue if you can prove you had other offers, and now those offers have expired because you took the job who then cut your wages.

 

[Cyberian]

Originally posted by: Carbonyl
You have a contract whether written or not to be paid X amount for doing Y work. Just think of the jobs she turned down based on salary as a factor. I think you should be able to sue if you can prove you had other offers, and now those offers have expired because you took the job who then cut your wages.

I think you are mistaken about having a contract if it is not in writing, and even if you want to consider it a contract, it can be broken by either party at any time.

I don't want to get into this being morally right, but it is the law in many/most states.

 

[Valinos]

Originally posted by: Quixfire
This happen at my work, 7% across the board, so now I do 7% less work than before.

LOL, exactly my thinking...

 

[tm37]

Originally posted by: Valinos

Originally posted by: Quixfire
This happen at my work, 7% across the board, so now I do 7% less work than before.

LOL, exactly my thinking...

That is such a great additude I would be sure to bring that up to prospective employers

What you really fail to grasp is that perhaps thoose individuals were being paid at a higher rate than a comparible position at a competitor. Unless you posess a skill that is rare in a high demand market you should continue to work at your full potential. I have never understood the mentality that your job is just out to screw you, If they truely were they would fire these people and then hire people at 30% less but trying to balance the loyality of employees with the hard life of bussiness is a fine line. If in order to stay competive the company has to lower pay you have two choices you can either accept or quit. Giving ten percent less is a really bad idea because if everyone did that then you would be forced to take another cut OR worse yet the company would fold. Understand that you are a resourse to that company and the market can change on your value. Pay cuts can sometimes be a hard reality to "BEING AN ADULT" But understanding the reason that they may be nessicary is crucial to "seeing the big picture"

Would you rather take a ten percent cut or be fired altogether. I for one would take the cut and then start sending out my resume. What you may find is that your value is not nearly as high as you thought. I may not agree with everything the boss does BUT I still give 100%. It really doesn't benifit me to slack and I for one am not going to be the reason for a failure.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: AaronP
it's not "illegal" even with a contract. It may cause a breah of contract, and open the employer up to civil lititagion, but its not illegal.

Um, a contract is a legal document, therefore if you break it, you have done something illegal, which allows you to be sued.

 

[tm37]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: AaronP
it's not "illegal" even with a contract. It may cause a breah of contract, and open the employer up to civil lititagion, but its not illegal.

Um, a contract is a legal document, therefore if you break it, you have done something illegal, which allows you to be sued.

VERY FEW employees have a written contract that does not carry a clause that allows for termination or pay cuts or PAY RAISES:Q. The grounds for legal litigation would be like if you signed a contact to get payed 20K a year for 5 years and in year three they dropped it to 18K (or 19.999K) for the most part employees are "at will" and there isn't any legal binding reason for employers to keep them (however without employees they wouldn't get much done).