California Final Paycheck Law

California is one of the strict states. Under Cal. Labor Code 201 and 202, an employee you terminate must be paid on the day of discharge; someone who resigns gets more room. In full: Fired: immediately. Quit: within 72 hours, or immediately if 72 hours notice was given. Waiting-time penalty: a day of wages per day late, up to 30 days. Waiting-time penalties are the sting: a full day of wages for each day the check is late, up to 30 days, which on a $25-an-hour employee is $6,000 for a check that was simply slow. Pick the separation type, enter the last day and your next payday, and the calculator returns the latest date you can legally pay. Accrued PTO payout is a separate California rule and is not included. Related: the California minimum wage, the HR compliance risk check for the termination process, and the all-state calculator. Nearby: Nevada, Arizona and Oregon. Everything else about employing in California is on CoAd in California.