What Are Final Paycheck Laws by State?

Final paycheck laws vary by state. Many states in the United States require that employers provide departing employees with their final paycheck within a short period. In some states, employers are required to give their departing employees a paycheck on the last day of work. In contrast, in other states the time limit is dependent on whether the employee was fired or voluntarily quit.

Unfortunately, many employers don't follow final paycheck laws simply because they aren't aware of the existence of these laws. However, employers may face consequences for breaking final paycheck laws. If the former employee decides to sue the employer, the employer may need to pay for the court costs and attorney fees for the former employee. Besides final paycheck laws, there are many states that also require employers to pay former employees for unused vacation days.

Here is some information about final paycheck laws by state.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Alabama

In Alabama, there are no final paycheck laws. This is true whether the employee quit or was fired.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Alaska

In Alaska, the employer needs to pay the final check to the employee within seven working days if the employer fired the employee. If the employee quit, the employer needs to pay the final check on the next payday that is three days after the employee notified the employer of their voluntary termination.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Arizona

If the employer fired the employee in Arizona, the employer needs to give the employee a final check on the next payday or within seven business days, whichever comes first. If the employee quit, the final check must be given on the next payday.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Arkansas

In Arkansas, if the employer fired the employee, the employee must receive their final check within seven days. If the employee quit, they must receive their final check on the next scheduled payday.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in California

In the state of California, the employer needs to give the employee the final check immediately upon firing the individual. If the employee resigned, the employer needs to pay the employee within three days. However, if the employee gave more than three days' notice, the employer must give the final check to the employee immediately.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Colorado

In the state of Colorado, the employer needs to give the terminated employee their final check immediately. "Immediately" is defined as within six hours of the beginning of the next business day if the payroll unit is not open when the employee is terminated, or within a day if the payroll unit is not on site. If the employee resigned, the employer must give the final check on the next payday.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Connecticut

If the employee was terminated in Connecticut, the employer must give the employee the final check on the next business day. On the other hand, if the employee resigned, the employee must receive the final check on the next payday.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Delaware

If the employee resigned, the employee must receive the final check by the next payday. For employees who were terminated, the final check must also be received by the next scheduled payday.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in District of Columbia

If the employee was terminated, they must receive the final check on the next working day. For employees who resigned, the final check must be received within seven days or on the next payday, whichever comes first.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Florida

In Florida, there are no final paycheck laws. This is true whether the employee quit or was fired.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Georgia

In Georgia, there are no final paycheck laws. This is true whether the employee quit or was fired.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Hawaii

In Hawaii, if the employer terminated the employee, the employee must receive their final check immediately, or by the next working day if certain conditions make immediate payment impossible. If the employee resigned, the employer must pay the employee on the next payday. However, if the employee gave the employer one pay period's notice, the employee must receive the final check immediately.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Idaho

For both terminated and resigned employees, the employer must give the final check on the next scheduled payday.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Indiana

Employers must give terminated employees the final check on the next payday. The same is also true for resigned employees. If the employee did not provide the employer with a forwarding address, the employer needs to wait 10 days after the employee provides an address or demands wages to issue the final check.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Iowa

For both terminated and resigned employees in Iowa, the employer must give the final check on the next payday on the schedule.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Kansas

For both terminated and resigned employees in Kansas, the employer must give the final check on the next payday on the schedule.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Kentucky

Terminated employees must receive their final check within 14 days or by the next payday on the schedule, whichever comes later. For employees who have resigned from their position, they must also receive their final check within 14 days or by the next payday on the schedule, whichever comes later.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Louisiana

Terminated employees in Louisiana must receive their final check within 15 days or by the next payday on the schedule, whichever comes later. For employees who have resigned from their position, they must also receive their final check within 15 days or by the next payday on the schedule, whichever comes later.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Maine

If the employer terminated the employee, the employee must receive the last check on the next payday or within two weeks after the employee makes the demand for the last paycheck, whichever comes first. If the employee resigned, the employee must receive the last paycheck on the next payday or within 14 days after the employee makes the demand, whichever is earlier.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Maryland

For both terminated and resigned employees in Maryland, the employer must give the last check on the next scheduled payday.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Massachusetts

If the employer terminated the employee in Massachusetts, the employee must receive the last check immediately. If the employee resigned, the employee must receive the final check on the next payday or the Saturday that follows the resignation if there is no payday scheduled.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Michigan

For both terminated and resigned employees in Michigan, the employer must give the final check on the next payday on the schedule.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Minnesota

If the employee was terminated, the employer must give the employee the final check immediately. If the employer resigned, the employer must pay the employee the final check on the next payday on the schedule.  However, if the next payday on the schedule is less than five days after the employee's last day of work, the employer must pay the employee within 20 days after their last day of work or on the scheduled payday, whichever comes first.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Mississippi

In Mississippi, there are no final paycheck laws. This is true whether the employee quit or was fired.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Missouri

If the employer terminated the employee, the employer must give the employee the final check immediately. There are no final paycheck laws for employees who resign in Missouri.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Montana

If the employer fires the employee for cause, the employer must give the employee the final check immediately. Another option the employer has is maintaining a written policy. The written policy can extend this time to 15 days. If the employee resigns, the employer must give the employee the final paycheck within 15 days or on the next payday, whichever comes first.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Nebraska

If the employer terminated the employee in Nebraska, the employer must give the employee the final check within two weeks or on the next payday, whichever comes first. On the other hand, if the employee resigned, the employer must give the employee the final check within two weeks or on the next payday, whichever comes first.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Nevada

If the employee was terminated in Nevada, the employer must give the employee the final check immediately. On the other hand, if the employee resigned, the employer must give the final check within seven days or by the next payday, whichever comes first.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in New Hampshire

If the employer terminated the employee in New Hampshire, the employer must give the employee their final check within 72 hours.  However, if the employer laid off the employee, the employer can give the employee the final paycheck on the next payday. If the employee resigned, the employee must give the final check with the 72 hours or on next payday. The 72-hour deadline applies if the employee gave the employer one pay period's notice.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in New Jersey

In New Jersey, if the employer terminated the employee, the employer must give the final check to the employee on the next payday. On the other hand, if the employee resigned, the employer must give the final check to the employee on the next payday.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in New Mexico

If the employer terminated the employee, the final check must be given to the employee within five days. If the employee resigned, the employee must receive the final check by the next payday.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in New York

If the employer terminated the employee in New York, the final check must be given to the employee by the next payday. The same is true for employees who resigned from the position.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in North Carolina

If the employer terminated the employee in North Carolina, the final check must be given to the employee by the next payday. The same is true for employees who resigned from the position.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in North Dakota

In North Dakota, if the employer terminates the employee, the employee must receive the final check within 15 days or on the next payday, whichever comes first. For resigned employees, the final check must be received by the next payday.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Ohio

There are no final paycheck laws for terminated employees in Ohio. If the employee resigned, the employee must receive the final paycheck on the first day of the next month for wages earned in the first half of the previous month or on the 15th day for wages earned in the last half of the previous month.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Oklahoma

If the employee was terminated, the employee must receive the final check by the next payday on the schedule. The same is also true for resigned employees.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Oregon

If the employee was terminated in Oregon, the employee must receive the final check by the end of the next working day. On the other hand, if the employee resigned and gave more than two days' notice, the employee must receive the final check immediately. If the employee doesn't give notice, the employee must receive the final check within five days or on the next payday, whichever comes first.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Pennsylvania

If the employee was terminated in Pennsylvania, the employee must receive the final check by the next payday on the schedule. The same is also true for resigned employees.

Laws for the Last Paycheck in Rhode Island

If the employee was terminated in Rhode Island, the employee must receive the final check by the next payday on the schedule. The same is also true for resigned employees.

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