“You were late, so we will withhold €25.”
“You did something wrong, we will deduct that from your wages.”
Many young people are faced with fines or deductions from their salary. It is often said that this is “in the contract”. But is that actually allowed?
The short answer: almost never.
Main rule: wages are protected
👉 An employee's wages are protected by law.
This means that an employer is not allowed to simply withhold money from your salary.
This also applies for:
young people
students
part-timers
side jobs
Even if the amounts involved are small.
When may an employer not withhold a fine?
In most cases, withholding wages is not permitted, for example in the event of:
being late
an error at work
damage (without intent or deliberate recklessness)
“rules of order or conduct”
cash register differences
broken items
👉 These are normal work risks and they lie with the employer.
“But it is in my contract”
We also hear that often. But it is important to know:
not everything stated in a contract is valid
contracts may not be contrary to the law
penalty clauses are assessed very strictly
This often goes too far, especially for young people and part-time jobs.
Penalty clause: when is it possible is it?
A fine is only allowed if:
the penalty clause has been agreed in writing
it is clear and specific
the fine is reasonable
the wage does not fall below the minimum wage
In practice, fines are sufficient to side jobs are almost never involved.
Can an employer offset fines against your wages?
👉 In principle: no.
Settling against wages is:
legally risky
often unlawful
especially at minimum wage prohibited
This is usually not allowed without your free and conscious consent.
Cash register differences and shortages
This is a classic among young people.
Important:
cash difference ≠ automatically your fault
employer must ensure checks and instructions
risks are part of doing business
👉 Cash register differences may not simply be recovered from you.
What if you said “agree”?
For example:
under pressure
via WhatsApp
for fear of dismissal
Then that permission is often not valid.
Certainly not if you are young and dependent on your income.
What should you do in case of fines or withholding of wages?
Use this step-by-step plan:
Check your pay slip
Ask in writing why there is withheld
Check whether there is a valid penalty clause
Do not just agree
Have it assessed whether the withholding is allowed
You can often:
reclaim the withheld wages
additional payment demands
stop further deductions
Common mistakes made by young people
think that fines are “normal”
agree out of fear
not check pay slips
do not have anything checked
wait too long
That often costs unnecessary money.
Are you unsure about fines on your salary?
Are you:
student
part-timer
young person with a part-time job
and your employer withholds fines or amounts from you wages?
Then have it checked. It often turns out that:
the deduction is not allowed
you are entitled to a refund
the employer goes too far
👉 Feel free to contact us to have your situation assessed.