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?

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?”

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

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 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?”