What can I do if my employer cuts my pay?
Michael Gray
Updated on March 30, 2026
Your boss may be unaware that your payment has seemingly been cut, and that statement alone should induce fear. If that doesn’t work, go to Human Resources and your boss’s boss. If that doesn’t work, and you’ve explored all of your internal options, it’s time to call your State Department of Labor.
Can an employer cut my wages?
Shân Evans, of People Management, explained: “Legally, an employer cannot impose a pay cut upon its employees if they have an employment contract that sets out details of their salary entitlement. This means if your employer wants to cut your pay, they have to ask for your permission first.
What happens when an employer Cuts Your Pay?
A pay cut that is universally applied to all employees, after all, is not about you, it’s about everyone. If a boss cuts the staff’s pay and keeps his current salary the result is likely a lot of people beginning a search for new jobs.
What’s the average pay cut for an executive?
Those who make less than $65,000 will face a 5 percent pay cut, and those who make more than $125,000 will take a pay cut of more than 10 percent. Executives’ salaries will be cut between 14 percent and 25 percent.
Can a exempt employee take a pay cut?
Exempt employees rates of pay cannot fluctuate. In other words, you couldn’t ask your exempt employees to take a pay cut during the slow months. If you needed to do this, you would have to switch the employee from salary to hourly. Related Posts 5 Reasons to Start an Employee Wellness Program
When does it make sense to take a pay cut?
When a demotion occurs, and the previous salary is considerably above what other people in the new position are making, a pay cut makes sense. When the demotion is voluntary—for example, you accept a lower position because you want less stress or a completely different set of tasks—then you’ll accept a pay cut easily.