My employer notified me on Saturday that I had to do certain work on the following Tuesday and if it was not done to his satisfaction that day then he would withhold my paycheck from the previous 2 week period until it was done. This sounds like blackmail. Can he refuse to pay me for work done in a previous period?

Can he, I guess he can if he wants to violate several employment laws.

If he does, report him to the labor board and sue him in small claims court. Also look for another job, since that is not a place to work

My employer notified me on Saturday that I had to do certain work on the following Tuesday and if it was not done to his satisfaction that day then he would withhold my paycheck from the previous 2 week period until it was done. This sounds like blackmail. Can he refuse to pay me for work done in a previous period?
If I am not mistaken, they can hold your check for up to five days regardless but what he is doing is wrong and I agree with chuck

Sue that may depend on the state, I know when I was a factory manager before, paychecks did not get fed ex on time, so they had to wire the money to my personal accouint and I had to hand write about 100 checks.
We would have violated some state law if we had not paid on the day the check was scheduled

My employer notified me on Saturday that I had to do certain work on the following Tuesday and if it was not done to his satisfaction that day then he would withhold my paycheck from the previous 2 week period until it was done. This sounds like blackmail. Can he refuse to pay me for work done in a previous period?


Hey Mike,, did you get paid or did he hold your check

If there is a scheduled payday, then pay has to be delivered on that day. Nor can an employer withhold pay for work previously performed.