# Question to the Lawyer Dopers
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-to-the-lawyer-dopers/236407
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 25, 2004, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-to-the-lawyer-dopers/236407 "2004-03-25T19:42:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2004, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-to-the-lawyer-dopers/236407/1 "2004-03-25T19:42:42Z")
Question for the lawyer dopers:
If you work for a not-for-profit charity, can they force you to donate back to the charity? That is, can they direct withdraw from your already meager paycheck without your permission? This is being bandied about our organization lately and frankly I don’t like the sound of it.
I don’t know if this is pertinent or not, but the organization is tax-exempt and I am not.
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### Author:  [@ReverseCowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReverseCowgirl)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2004, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-to-the-lawyer-dopers/236407/2 "2004-03-25T20:06:34Z")
> [@](#):
>
> S 193. Deductions from wages. 1. No employer shall make any deduction
> from the wages of an employee, except deductions which:
> a. are made in accordance with the provisions of any law or any rule
> or regulation issued by any governmental agency; or
> b. are expressly authorized in writing by the employee and are for the
> benefit of the employee; provided that such authorization is kept on
> file on the employer`s premises. Such authorized deductions shall be
> limited to payments for insurance premiums, pension or health and
> welfare benefits, contributions to charitable organizations, payments
> for United States bonds, payments for dues or assessments to a labor
> organization, and similar payments for the benefit of the employee.
> 2. No employer shall make any charge against wages, or require an
> employee to make any payment by separate transaction unless such charge
> or payment is permitted as a deduction from wages under the provisions
> of subdivision one of this section.
> 3. Nothing in this section shall justify noncompliance with article
> three-A of the personal property law relating to assignment of earnings,
> nor with any other law applicable to deductions from wages.
I think that says no. By the way, here is the [source](http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?cl=54&a=9)
Good luck.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2004, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-to-the-lawyer-dopers/236407/3 "2004-03-25T20:36:20Z")
Whew! Thank you. I intend to keep the source around for if and when they do bring it up.
If they paid me a fortune…but I probably still wouldn’t do it. I don’t much like this charity, or at least their way of doing things.
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### Author:  [@ReverseCowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReverseCowgirl)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2004, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-to-the-lawyer-dopers/236407/4 "2004-03-25T20:44:30Z")
> [@Elenia25](#):
>
> Whew! Thank you. I intend to keep the source around for if and when they do bring it up.
>
> If they paid me a fortune…but I probably still wouldn’t do it. I don’t much like this charity, or at least their way of doing things.
And it would truly suck to have to subsidize them, I’m sure.
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### Author:  [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2004, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-to-the-lawyer-dopers/236407/5 "2004-03-25T22:55:51Z")
United Way?
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### Author:  [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2004, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-to-the-lawyer-dopers/236407/6 "2004-03-25T23:28:16Z")
Note that **RC’s** source is New York law, which would only apply in that state. However, the odds are good that your state of employment (if different)would have a similar law.
Usual disclaimer: Although IAAL, I’m not your lawyer. This is general information and not meant to be legal advice. See a lawyer licensed in your state for that.
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### Author:  [@Reader99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reader99)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2004, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-to-the-lawyer-dopers/236407/7 "2004-03-26T04:28:31Z")
one thing to worry about might be that the donations would remain voluntary, but over time you might start to see that the people who donate “voluntarily” are first in line for promotions, merit raises, bonuses etc., and it might be very hard to prove actual illegal conduct. after all, everybody likes a team player, right?
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### Author:  [@ReverseCowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReverseCowgirl)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2004, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-to-the-lawyer-dopers/236407/8 "2004-03-26T12:40:33Z")
> [@Random](#):
>
> Note that **RC’s** source is New York law, which would only apply in that state. However, the odds are good that your state of employment (if different)would have a similar law.
> Usual disclaimer: Although IAAL, I’m not your lawyer. This is general information and not meant to be legal advice. See a lawyer licensed in your state for that.
Yeah. I got her home state from her profile. New York. 🙂
If I was wrong about the state, let me know.