California Pay Laws Are Complex And Comprehensive

The laws regarding paydays in California are complex, so many employees don’t fully understand them. There are a few different points that anyone who is working in this state must be aware of since they can have a big impact on how pay is handled.

Here are a few different points from the Labor Code that you should know when you are working for someone other than yourself:

Regular paydays are required

Employers are required to post a notice that includes the regular pay schedule. The state law requires that employees are paid at least twice per month. Hours accrued from the 1st to the 15th of the month must be paid by the 26th of that month. Hours accrued from the 16th to the end of the month must be paid no later than the 10th of the following month. When other pay schedules are followed, they must be at regular intervals, such as on the same day of the week, biweekly or semimonthly.

Pay when you quit

If you don’t have an employment contract and give a 72-hour notice, you must be paid when you quit. If you don’t give that notice, the employer has 72 hours after you quit to get you your pay. You have the option of having this pay mailed to an address that you designate. The employer has 72 hours to get it in the mail, so the date noted on the mailing is considered the pay date.

Pay when you are terminated

If you are terminated, you must get your pay at the time of the termination. This includes all of the wages you are due, as well as any vacation time you’ve accrued during the course of your employment as long as you haven’t used that time yet.

One thing that you must realize is that your employer can’t direct deposit your pay into your account if you are terminated or quit unless you request this in accordance with state law. All direct deposit authorizations are immediately terminated at the time of the discharge or when you quit unless you specifically authorize the final pay to be handled by direct deposit.

Source: State of California Department of Industrial Relations, “Paydays, pay periods, and the final wages,” accessed Dec. 28, 2017