My daughter (16) recently started working for a business in Kansas. Part of her pre-employment paperwork included an agreement she had to sign that stated that any time her cash drawer is short, or if a customer steals something the amount will be deducted from her paycheck. Is this legal?

My daughter (16) recently started working for a business in Kansas. Part of her pre-employment paperwork included an agreement she had to sign that stated that any time her cash drawer is short, or if a customer steals something the amount will be deducted from her paycheck. Is this legal?

I'm not sure if it is against the law, but it sure does sound like it is. You should check with the Kansas Dept. of Labor. Their website is here: http://www.hr.state.ks.us/. Good luck.

Kansas employers are not supposed to deduct for such costs. However, this is a little iffy because your daughter's employer is having her sign an agreement to authorize deductions. Theoretically, any deduction is legal if the employee permits it and it odes not violate the law.

Because your daughter is signing this as a condition of her hire and it isn't really voluntary, I would say that it is not in keeping with Kansas law. Therefore, it is not legal. What are her choices? If she refuses to sign the document, the chances are very good that she won't be hired. If that is the case, you could only pursue the employer legally if you are willing to front the legal costs. Even then, you may not win anything except an acknowlegement that the employer is wrong or, if she signs the document and then is later hit with a deduction, she can file a claim with the state. My suggestion is that you talk with the state first, to get their opinion as to whether a wage claim may be upheld. Good luck.

With regard to her signing an agreement to have her pay deducted, I wonder if she is legally able to enter into such an agreement. She is a minor.

Yes, it is legal. If it wasn't, employers hiring minors all over the country would have difficulty. She is being required to sign a document (albeit, a questionable document) related to her work.