Asked in Employment Law for North Carolina

Q: My previous employer has not paid my wages that was owed to me on January 28, 2022. What can I do?

He says, I have to sign a document and return company property in order to get my paycheck. He also still owes me another (my final) paycheck.

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2 Lawyer Answers

A: File a wage claim with the NC Department of Labor. Free of charge and you can do it online. He cannot lawfully hold your pay to make you sign a document or return company property. If you had previously signed a document he might be able to deduct something from your final pay, but not hold it. Also, I advise employees not to sign documents when leaving a company unless the documents clearly benefit the employees.

A: It is always advised to have an employment lawyer review a contract in a situation like this before signing it. Contact an employment lawyer to review the document, and to discuss pursuing back wages if your employer is improperly withholding them.

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