What is docking pay?

Docking pay is when an employer takes money out of any employee's pay, also referred to as a deduction. It is a requirement that employers provide employees with a payslip that lists their pay each time they are paid. This payslip must include any deductions that occur.

There are many reasons why docking pay can occur. These can be workplace violations, mistakes, or poor performance. Many NFL teams dock pay for athletes that miss practices or workouts, amongst other things. There are also some reasons that employees may dock pay that are not legal, such as docking to the point that an employee is paid under minimum wage.