Prohibited Deductions From Employee’s Wages
A Louisiana employer is prohibited from assessing fines against employees or making a deduction from wages for such fines unless the employee has willfully damaged goods, works, or property of the employer, or when the employee is convicted of or pleads guilty to the crime of theft of employer funds, in which case a fine may be assessed equal to the actual damage done. If the employer makes improper deductions, the employer may be fined between $25 and $100, or imprisoned for between 30 days and 3 months.
Nonetheless, employers can and must deduct federal and state income tax withholdings and FICA contributions, including deductions for Social Security. Employers may deduct employee contributions to benefit plans like retirement plans or insurances.
