I am currently working a prevailing wage construction job. In past years we have always received the fringe benefits as pay. My employer has decided to now have everyone on the PW job receive a bona fide benefit package of health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance. The benefits package is being adminstered through a company called Beneco. I received my first paycheck last Friday and my employer is deducting $721.00 from my check for this benefit package. I already have all the above listed insurance through my wife's employer and I do not need or want any of my *fringies* paid in insurance. I want to cash out. I have also been told by my employer that if anyone says a word about what he is doing with the fringes, he will fire them.

Am I required to take the fringe package as insurance or can I legally ask to be *cashed out*?

As a result of this new fringe package, I took home $200.00 less than I would have on a non-prevailing job.

I am paid weekly and they will be taking the $721.00 out each WEEK.

Thanks for any help!!

Zoo

Have you browsed through the information in LawInfo's Free Legal Resource Center to learn more about your issue yet? See: http://www.lawinfo.com/consumer.html and http://resources.lawinfo.com/en/index.html. You can certainly try to speak to a lawyer to determine what legal options may be available. In the meantime, you may be able to learn more on your own. Search the "Free Legal Resources" tab, or browse the Consumer Resources. Good luck.

Yes, I have browsed through just about everything I can find - both here and various labor board sites. I know I will have to call an attorney in the AM and discuss my rights. My wife did call the labor board on Friday and got someone that said they "thought" the owner of the company could, on a case by case basis, allow people to cash out. I surely need to know my rights as if I approach the owner and ask to be cashed out I will probably immediately be taken off the PW job and sent to the ends of the earth to work (as retaliation) or be fired. Seeing as this just happened Friday and it is the weekend I am frustrated trying to find an answer

Thank you for your help!

Z~