Is it legal to : lets say if I call in ill to not only dock my pay for that day but take away $1.00 an hour from me for the 80 hour pay period.Meaning not only have I lost a days pay but $80 extra dollars.Or if Im late by more than 7 minutes to dock me $1.00 an hour or $80 for that pay period and if not is there a way to go around it by putting it in policy and proceedures.This is a new policy to start July 1st at my Job.Any help would be much appreciated.

Are you exempt or non-exempt? That is an important questions.

My employer is putting this in effect for all nurses currently employeed as well as new hires .This comes on the heels of a pay hike that puts us on a competative basis with other nursing homes in the area.He states that he cant give pay raise and to continue to pay over time.There will be no excused absences.If you call in you loose that day as well as $1 an hour for that 80 hour pay period.Also have you ever heard of "the Watermelon book" ?it gives the rules regarding overtime and if I have to stay over my alloted time if some one calls in or at least thats what Ive been told>

Contact Mississippi's Department of Labor. As a non-exempt (houly paid) employee, he can dock your pay for the time you miss but imposing an additional $1/hour fine for being absent is unlawful.

No, I have never heard of the Watermelon book. I don't have a clue what that is. Federal and State wage and hour laws dictate the manner in which you must be compensated and what is and isn't lawful, not some watermelon book.

Here's Mississippi's DOL website if you'd like to do some research of your own on your State's wage and hour laws and/or find out who to contact to file a comlaint: http://mdes.ms.gov/wps/portal/

Thank you for your help.After getting over being angry about having to increase the pay my boss thought better of trying to put these penalties in place.I was affraid Ide loose my job if I stirred up to much of a stink.I was going to wait and see how long it took some one to call in and sue when their pay was penalized.