New Jersey requires all wages due to be paid no later than the regular payday for the pay period in which the employment ended, whether the worker was fired, laid off, or quit. This article covers the statutory deadline, what belongs in the last check, lawful deductions, and the wage-complaint process.
A map of the state statutes that set pay, hours, leave, classification, and job-protection rules for New Jersey workers, with the current figures and the agency that enforces each one.
Massachusetts sets two separate final paycheck deadlines depending on whether the employee was discharged or left voluntarily, and a late payment carries mandatory treble damages under the Wage Act.
Michigan sets no fixed day count for most final paychecks. The Payment of Wages and Fringe Benefits Act ties the deadline to how fast the amount can be determined, backed by the regular payday rules, a 12-month complaint window, and a 10% annual penalty.
California pays final wages on the last day after a discharge and within 72 hours after most resignations. Vested vacation is included, and a late check runs up a daily penalty for as long as 30 days.
Arizona sets two final-paycheck deadlines under A.R.S. § 23-353: seven working days after a discharge, or the next regular payday when an employee quits. Unpaid wages can support a Labor Department claim up to $12,000 or a civil action for treble damages.
Virginia sets the final paycheck deadline at the next regular payday for the pay period worked, and backs it with liquidated damages, interest, and criminal penalties for willful nonpayment.
Washington requires final wages by the end of the established pay period, in practice, the next regularly scheduled payday, for employees who quit and employees who are fired. This article covers the deadline, what belongs in the last check, which deductions are allowed, and the two routes for recovering wages an employer keeps.
Minnesota sets two separate deadlines for a final paycheck, one for discharge and one for quitting, plus a penalty of up to 15 days of average daily earnings when an employer is in default.
An overview of California labor laws, covering the wage, hour, break, leave, classification, and termination rules that apply to most workers in the state.
A plain-language guide to Michigan labor law: wages, overtime, final paychecks, earned sick time, breaks, discrimination, and how the rules are enforced.
An orientation to Massachusetts labor law: minimum wage and overtime, the Wage Act and final paychecks, earned sick time and paid family and medical leave, discrimination protections, and how the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division enforces these rules.