Area of Law: Employment Law
Answer # 598
Garnishment of employee's wages
Region: Ontario Answer # 598As an employer, if you receive a court order to garnish an employee’s wages, you are required by law to comply, and you are not allowed to punish or fire the employee because of the garnishment. Garnishment orders are issued by the court. If an employee’s wages are being garnished, it is because they owe a debt and refused to pay it. In such cases, a common way to collect the debt is by garnishment.
As the employer garnishing the wages, you are called the garnishee. You will be required to pay a portion of the employee’s wages to the court until the debt is paid, at which time you will be notified to stop garnishing the wages.
If you receive a garnishment order and are unsure of what to do, you can call the courthouse listed on the court documents.
Get help
More information on garnishment can be found from the Small Claims Court section of this website, or visit the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development website. For legal help and assistance, contact an employment lawyer.
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