Can My Maryland Employer Withhold My Wages?

Maybe. In Maryland, an employee must agree in writing that his or her employer can withhold earned wages. Absent a written agreement, an employer has no right to withhold pay, even if the employee clearly owes the employer money or has failed to return company property, such as a laptop computer, at the conclusion of the employment relationship. If an employer does withhold pay without obtaining advance authorization from the employee, the employer potentially becomes liable to the employee for treble (triple) damages and attorney's fees under Maryland's Wage Payment and Collection law.