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What is garnishment?

  1. A payment made for overtime work

  2. A legal process to withhold a debtor's wages

  3. A form of employee training

  4. A bonus based on performance

The correct answer is: A legal process to withhold a debtor's wages

Garnishment is accurately defined as a legal process through which a portion of a debtor's wages is withheld by an employer for the payment of a debt. This typically occurs when a court orders that a credible claim for unpaid debts, such as child support, tax obligations, or other financial liabilities, needs to be collected directly from the debtor's earnings. The employer is then required to deduct the specified amount from the employee's paycheck and remit it to the creditor. Understanding garnishment involves recognizing its legal nature, as well as the role of judicial authority in initiating this process, which distinguishes it from other financial or employment terms. While concepts like overtime pay, employee training, and performance bonuses relate to workplace compensation, they do not involve legal enforcement mechanisms for debt recovery, setting garnishment apart as a unique financial and legal procedure in human resources management.