If a remote employee quits, can the employer do anything (such as withhold the final pay cheque) to make sure all of its equipment is returned?
Question: If a remote employee quits, can the employer do anything (such as withhold the final paycheque) to make sure all of its equipment is returned?
Answer: Withholding pay without the employee’s authorization is generally prohibited under provincial employment standards legislation and will only be permissible in very narrow and rare circumstances. However, some jurisdictions, including Ontario, allow an employer to withhold or make a deduction from an employee’s wages where the employee has provided written authorization. In most cases, that authorization must be very specific. For example, in Ontario, the employee’s authorization must refer to a specific amount or provide a formula from which a specific amount may be calculated.
