Unknowingly forced to pay for background check?

[daftmemory]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan

Hey guys, new to the forum, but have come here before to look some things up. My girlfriend just got a job at a daycare a few weeks ago. After her first week, there was a pay deduction of $44 for some online background check. They did not notify her that they would be conducting a background check, let alone that she would be the one paying for it. A couple weeks later, there was another $44 taken from her check for yet another background check. She lived in Florida and worked at Disney for a little while after high school, so they did a background check in Florida.

Can an employer do this? I was under the impression they have to notify the employee, or interviewee, that background checks are required and must be covered out of their pocket. I can see if the employer was paying for it, and didn't notify the employee...but this just seems wrong.

I'm not very educated in employment law, so any advice is appreciated very much.

 

[FlyingRon]

Except for certain items specifically required by law, it takes written authorization from the employee for any deduction to take place. Of course, it's possible she did sign such an authorization (perhaps on the employment application).

LARA handles the complaints. See here: http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-61256_11407_59886-107123--,00.html