Alucid

If your employer is withholding your final paycheck because you didn’t return company property—like a laptop, phone, or keys—you may be wondering: Can they really do that?

Many states have their own laws that require a signed, written agreement from the employee authorizing the deduction ahead of time.

If you’re leaving a job and realize that company equipment you were issued—like a laptop, phone, or tools—is lost or damaged, you might be wondering: “Can my employer take that out of my final paycheck?”

When an employee is issued a company laptop, phone, or other IT equipment, it's not just about hardware—it's about responsibility.

A comprehensive IT offboarding checklist designed to ensure a smooth and secure transition.

Use this checklist to stay compliant with federal and state laws when managing unreturned company property during employee offboarding.

When an employee leaves without returning company equipment — like a laptop, monitor, or phone — it’s tempting to withhold their final paycheck until it’s returned. But is that legal?

It’s a common and frustrating situation: an employee leaves your company, and the laptop, monitor, or phone you issued never comes back. Naturally, you might wonder — can we hold their final paycheck until they return the equipment?

Because your tech deserves more than a flimsy box and a prayer.

Use this checklist to ensure a smooth offboarding process and avoid delays with your final paycheck.

It’s a question many employees ask when leaving a job— “Can they hold my last paycheck if I haven’t returned my laptop, phone or other gear?”

If done improperly, it can expose your business to serious legal and financial consequences.

When it comes to protecting your company’s assets, documentation is everything.

Before touching that final paycheck, make sure you’ve taken these essential steps.

Under federal law, employers can deduct the full cost of unreturned company equipment from an employee’s paycheck except . . . .

Yes — there are important differences!

In March 2025, U.S. layoffs surged by 60% compared to February,