I am an auto mechanic for 24 years. I have never heard of this happening ever before. Three weeks ago I was working on a Jaguar. First time on this model vehicle. On reassembling the intake manifold I accidently crossed two hoses causing coolant to enter the combustion chamber and bending a connecting rod.

Everybody said not worry, everyone makes mistakes.

It took almost three weeks for the parts to come in. When they came in I repaired the vehicle to perfect running order.

The following Friday I told my employer I would be moving on and gave two weeks notice. He really did not want me to quit and said everyone makes a mistake and I was still the mechanic he wanted in his shop.

The following Monday he fired me. And then he withheld my paycheck and said I still owed him $525.00. He took all my last regular pay from other work I had completed. He did not pay me for the hours repairing the vehicle I accidently broke(understandable), and he charged me $600.00 for the rental for the customer for two weeks. Alltogether about $1,800.00.

I have broken things before in this line of work, everybody does. I have never heard of a shop charging the employee for the cost of replacing a broken part. It is not written in any contract at the time of hire. He did not ever say I would inccur the cost. Had I known that, then shouldn't I have had some say in ordering the parts? The customer was in a rental because my boss took two weeks to get the parts! Plus he replaced a piston and a rod, instead of just the bent rod. The piston was an additional $300.00.

What am I responisdble for as his employee? I do not share in his profits, but do I share in his losses?

Unfortunately, the issue of deducting from paychecks is a state issue and Georgia has no laws prohibiting the employer from making such a deduction without your authorization, although I do admit it's not good business sense, at least if they want to keep good employees.

However, you must be paid at least minimum wage for all the hours that you did work. You will have to contact the federal Dept. of Labor to make a claim, though, because Georgia doesn't have its own laws about that either.

Thanks for the reply and the information. If I understand this correctly, then my employer can take my paycheck, and send me a bill for what he wants as the balance. If I am responsible to pay for the expense of repairing the vehicle, then I have two questions.

One- Should I have been informed of that beforehand?

Two- If I am responsible for the repair, then shouldn't I have some say in the repair being done in a timely fashion and also the nesassary parts for the repair?

Do I have grounds to sue him in court?

Thank you for any help you can offer.

I'd certainly take a shot at small claims court for the balance. But you MUST be paid your wages for what you worked.