R610-3-18. Deductions and Offsets

The following sums shall constitute lawful deductions or offsets from wages due an employee:

A. Sums deducted from wages pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code or other Federal tax provision;

B. Sums deducted from wages pursuant to the Social Security Administration Act and Federal Insurance Contribution Act;

C. Sums deducted from wages pursuant to any Utah city, county, or state tax;

D. Sums deducted from wages as dues, contributions, or other fees to a labor, employee, professional, or other employer-related organization or association; and sums as contributions for an employee's participation or eligibility in a health, welfare, insurance, retirement, or other benefit plan or program, provided that the:

1. Employee has granted written authorization for the deductions; and

2. Deductions shall terminate upon the written revocation of the authorization;

E. Sums deducted from wages as payments, repayments, contributions, deposits, to a credit union, banking, savings, loan, trust or other financial institution, provided that the:

1. Employee has granted written authorization for the deductions; and

2. Deductions shall terminate upon the written revocation of the authorization;

F. Sums deducted from wages as payment for the purchase of goods or services by the employee from the employer, provided that the:

1. Employee has actual or constructive possession of the goods or services purchased; and

2. Employee's purchase is evidenced by the employee's written acknowledgment;

G. Sums deducted from wages for damages suffered by the employer due to the employee's negligence:

1. A potential deduction shall meet the following pre-conditions:

a. negligence and damages arise out of the course of employment;

b. employer has not received payments, compensation, or any form of restitution for the same monetary loss from an insurer, assurer, surety, or guarantor to cover the injuries, losses, or damages;

c. offset is reasonably related to the amount of the damage; and

d. damage is over and above wear and tear reasonably expected in the normal course of business.

2. Methods of determining an employee's negligence and amount of damage are:

a. by a judicial proceeding;

b. by an employer's written and published procedures coupled with an employee's express authorization for the deduction in writing; or

c. by any other provision allowed or required by law pursuant to Section 34-28-3(5).

H. Sums deducted from wages, in the proper amounts, for enforcement of a valid attachment or garnishment shall be honored by the Division;

I. Sums deducted from wages as repayment to the employer by the employee of advances or loans made to the employee by the employer, provided that the:

1. Advance or loan to the employee occurred while the employee was in the employ of the employer; and

2. Employee's receipt of the advance or loan is evidenced by the employee's written acknowledgment;

J. Sums deducted from wages as a result of loss or damage occurring from the criminal conduct of the employee against the property of the employer, provided that:

1. The employee has been adjudged guilty by a judicial proceeding of the specified crime committed against the property of the employer;

2. The crime occurred during the employment relationship or out of the employment relationship; and

3. The property of the employer cannot or has not been reunited with the employer; or

4. The employee willfully and through his own admission did in fact destroy company property. An offset against the earned wages may be allowed at the hearing officer's discretion.

K. Sums deducted from the wages resulting from cash shortages, provided that the:

1. Employee gives written acknowledgment upon beginning employment that he or she shall be responsible for shortages;

2. Employee shall at the beginning of his or her work period be checked in or verified on the register or with the cash amount by the employer in the employee's presence and give written acknowledgment of the verification;

3. Employee at the end of the work period be checked out or verified on the register or with the cash amount by the employer in the employee's presence and give written acknowledgment of the verification; and

4. Employee be the sole and absolute user and have sole access to the register or cash amount from the time checked in under Subsection (2) until the time checked out under Subsection (3);

L. Sums deducted from wages as payment for the purchase of goods, tools, equipment, or other items required for the employment of a person, provided that the:

1. Employee's purchase and receipt of the items is evidenced by a written acknowledgment;

2. Employee has actual or constructive possession of the goods or items; and

3. Employer repurchase the items from the employee at the employee's option upon the termination of employment at a fair and reasonable price;

M. Sums deducted from wages as payment for goods, tools, equipment, or other items furnished and assigned to the employee by the employer, provided that:

1. The item was assigned during the employment of the employee;

2. The employee gave written acknowledgment of the receipt of the item; and

3. The item was not returned to the employer upon termination.