Employer mistakes causing deductions from pay without notice

[roebine]

Question- my fiance is a state employee. Three times in the past three months, his check has been reduced to less than half of a normal paycheck without overtime. Both these checks did include substantial overtime, so the deductions taken by the State are huge.

The first time the payroll department stated that it was repayment for pay that was over paid the prior year, but a detail of what, when etc. will not be provided by the payroll department.

The second and third times (his most recent check being the 3rd), the payroll deparment stated that it was a mistake (computer glitch) and he will be paid back at their convenience.

He is not getting notice, and on the payback, which I understand he owed back, can they take the entire amount without notice and no work out plan?

I am employed, so we are not hurt financially but I would like to help him as this keeps happening and the payroll department is doing this to a number of people within the division that he works. Is there no protection for employees so that their wages are not reduced by the employer to a non livable wage?

If the state that he is employed in matters, it is New York.

Thank you!

 

[presutin]

my fiance is a state employee

He is not getting notice, and on the payback, which I understand he owed back, can they take the entire amount without notice and no work out plan?

Yes, they can take the deduction as long as there is a line item stating what the deduction is about. Now, since he is a state employee, ask him to find out what is the chain of command when it comes to reporting these anomalies on his paycheck and tell him to contact them so the issue gets addressed by those higher ups, not the lower level employees. Good luck to you!