Unjust request?

[Garrison]

Indiana. an employee at small grocers recieved payment for purchases by electronic food stamp card. reciept not found in drawer. employer insists that employee pay the missing amount. is this legal? does employee have any recourse? don't these machines keep a record of transactions? Garrison

 

[loku]

It sounds like this is a matter of what can be proved. Did the employee use the procedure for the electronic sales that the employer instructed him/her in? Can the employee demonstrate that the sales don’t show up when the proper procedure is followed? If the answers to these questions is in favor of the employee, then the employee is in the right, otherwise not.

 

[Beth3]

If you don't get a post from someone here that can specifically inform you about Indiana State's reg's on this, then call Indiana's Department of Labor/wage and hour division and inquire.

Some States (mine included) expressly prohibit the employer from holding the employee financially accountable for "quality defects" (which would include cash drawers that come up short) due to carelessness, human error, or even theft. If an employer suspects an employee of theft or vandalism, their recourse to recoup their losses is via criminal and/or civil action, not through payroll deduction or a demand for payment.

I don't know Indiana's reg's on this, so do contact your State's DOL to get a definitive answer if you don't get one here.