“You were late, so we’re withholding €25.”
“You did something wrong; we’ll deduct it from your pay.”
Many young people face fines or deductions from their salary. It’s 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 legally protected.
That means that an employer may not simply withhold money from your salary.
This also applies to:
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young people
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students
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part-timers
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temporary agency workers
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side jobs
Even if it concerns small amounts.
When is an employer not allowed to withhold a fine?
In most cases, wage withholding is not allowed, for example in the case of:
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being late
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a mistake at work
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damage (without intent or conscious recklessness)
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“order or conduct rules”
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cash register discrepancies
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damaged goods
👉 These are normal work risks and they are the employer’s responsibility.
“But it’s in my contract”
We hear that a lot too. But it’s important to know:
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not everything that is in a contract is valid
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contracts may not be in conflict with the law
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penalty clauses are very strictly assessed
Especially for young people and part-time jobs, this often goes too far.
Penalty clause: when is it allowed?
A penalty is only allowed if:
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the penalty clause in writing is agreed
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the clear and specific is
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the fine reasonable is
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the wage not below the minimum wage falls
In practice, fines for side jobs here comply almost never with this.
Can an employer deduct fines from your wages?
👉 In principle: no.
Deducting from wages is:
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legally risky
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often unlawful
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especially at minimum wage prohibited
Without your free and informed consent this is usually not allowed.
Cash register discrepancies and shortages
This is a classic among young people.
Important:
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cash register discrepancy ≠ automatically your fault
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employer must ensure checks and instructions
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risks are part of doing business
👉 Cash register discrepancies cannot just be charged to you.
What if you said “agreed”?
For example:
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under pressure
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via WhatsApp
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for fear of being fired
Then that consent is often not valid.
Certainly not if you are young and dependent on your income.
What should you do in case of fines or wage deductions?
Use this step-by-step plan:
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Check your payslip
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Request in writing why an amount was withheld
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Check whether there is a valid penalty clause
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Do not simply agree
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Have it assessed whether the deduction is permitted
Often you can:
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reclaim withheld wages
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demand back pay
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stop further deductions
Common mistakes young people make
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thinking that fines are “normal”
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agreeing out of fear
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not checking pay slips
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not getting anything checked
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waiting too long
That often costs unnecessary money.
Are you unsure about fines on your salary?
Are you:
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student
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part-timer
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temporary worker
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young person with a part-time job
and does your employer deduct fines or amounts from your pay?
Then let’s quickly check it. Often it turns out that:
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the deduction is not allowed
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you are entitled to a refund
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the employer is going too far
👉 Feel free to get in touch to have your situation assessed.
