Lawyers can't even announce their raises in an understandable way. Here is the email a young lawyer received that supposedly is telling the associates that they are getting a raise. However, I advised her that it could also be a dock in pay:

"The Board has approved adjustments to associate salaries. The adjustments will be retroactive to January 1. We will be sending to each of you individually specific information about the adjustment. We appreciate your providing us with information as well as your patience regarding this matter."

Why is it called "docking" one's pay?

Any connection with a dock of the sort for a boat? Or being "in the dock"?

dock---To reduce one's pay....[fr dock, "to cut off part of the tail," fr a Middle Eglish word meaning "docked tail"--H-C Dict of Am. Slang