The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently held that the state’s Payment of Wages Law prohibits employers from reducing employee wages to recoup employee debt obligations unless the deduction can be considered a “valid set-off,” which it proceeded to interpret in a very restrictive manner. As the Payment of Wages Law provides for mandatory treble damages and attorneys’ fees, employers should immediately review their payroll practices to ensure that they are not making improper deductions. See our recent ASAP for a detailed analysis for the implications of this decision for employers.