By: LISA R. WILSON

So you have had it with that job! It’s time to get what you’ve got coming to you, and bid farewell. Although most states require employers to give departing employees their final paychecks in reasonable time, these time limits vary depending on whether the employee quit or was fired. State laws have been established to dictate the timing of final paychecks. If an employer fails to pay a departing employee within these time limits, the employer may be subject to penalties such as accrued interest and attorney fees, if the employee had to pursue legal action.

Here is a breakdown of the mandated delivery of final paychecks, listed by state:

• Alabama: No statute.
• Alaska: If employee is fired: three days. If employee quits: next regular payday at least three days after employee gives notice.
• Arizona: If employee is fired: within three days or next payday, whichever is sooner. If employee quits: next payday.
• Arkansas: If employee is fired: within seven days. No statute if employee quits.
• California: If employee is fired: immediately. If employee quits: within 72 hours, or immediately if employee has given at least 72 hours’ notice.
• Colorado: If employee is fired: immediately. If employee quits: next scheduled payday.
• Connecticut: If employee is fired: next business day. If employee quits: next scheduled payday.
• Delaware: If employee is fired: next scheduled payday. If employee quits: next scheduled payday.
• District of Columbia: If employee is fired: next business day. If employee quits: next scheduled payday or within seven days, whichever is sooner.
• Florida: No statute.
• Georgia: No statute.
• Hawaii: If employee is fired: immediately. If employee quits: next scheduled payday or immediately, if employee gives one pay period’s notice.
• Idaho: If employee is fired: next payday or within 10 days, whichever is sooner. If employee quits: next payday or within 10 days, whichever is sooner.
• Illinois: If employee is fired: next scheduled payday. If employee quits: next scheduled payday.
• Indiana: If employee is fired: next scheduled payday. If employee quits: next scheduled payday. If employee has not provided a forwarding address, employer may wait until ten days after employee demands wages or provides an address where the check may be mailed.
• Iowa: If employee is fired: next scheduled payday. If employee quits: next scheduled payday.
• Kansas: If employee is fired: next scheduled payday. If employee quits: next scheduled payday.
• Kentucky: If employee is fired: next scheduled payday or within 14 days, whichever is later. If employee quits: next scheduled payday or within 14 days, whichever is later.
• Louisiana: If employee is fired: next payday or within 15 days, whichever is earlier. If employee quits: next payday or within 15 days, whichever is earlier.
• Maine: If employee is fired: next scheduled payday or within two weeks after demand, whichever is earlier. If employee quits: next scheduled payday or within two weeks after demand, whichever is earlier.
• Maryland: If employee is fired: next scheduled payday. If employee quits: next scheduled payday.
• Massachusetts: If employee is fired: immediately. If employee quits: next scheduled payday or the Saturday following the employee’s resignation, if there is no scheduled payday.
• Michigan: If employee is fired: next payday. If employee quits: next payday.
• Minnesota: If employee is fired: immediately. If employee quits: next payday. If payday is less than five days after last day of work, employer may pay on the following payday or 20 days after last day of work, whichever is earlier.
• Mississippi: No statute.
• Missouri: If employee is fired: immediately. No statute if employee quits.
• Montana: If employee is fired: immediately. If employee quits: next payday or within 15 days, whichever is earlier.
• Nebraska: If employee is fired: next scheduled payday or within two weeks, whichever is earlier. No statute if employee quits.
• Nevada: If employee is fired: immediately. If employee quits: next scheduled payday or within seven days, whichever is earlier.
• New Hampshire: If employee is fired: within 72 hours. If employee quits: next scheduled payday or within 72 hours, if employee gives one pay period’s notice.
• New Jersey: If employee is fired: next scheduled payday. If employee quits: next scheduled payday.
• New Mexico: If employee is fired: within 5 days. If employee quits: next payday.
• New York: If employee is fired: next scheduled payday. If employee quits: next scheduled payday.
• North Carolina: If employee is fired: next scheduled payday. If employee quits: next scheduled payday.
• North Dakota: If employee is fired: next payday or within 15 days, whichever is earlier. If employee quits: next payday.
• Oklahoma: If employee is fired: next scheduled payday. If employee quits: next scheduled payday.
• Oregon: If employee is fired: end of next business day. If employee quits: immediately if employee has given 48 hours’ notice. Without notice, within five days or the next payday, whichever occurs first.
• Pennsylvania: If employee is fired: next scheduled payday. If employee quits: next scheduled payday.
• Rhode Island: If employee is fired: next scheduled payday. If employee quits: next scheduled payday.
• South Carolina: If employee is fired: within 48 hours or next scheduled payday, but not more than 30 days. No statute if employee quits.
• South Dakota: If employee is fired: next payday or when employee returns employer’s property. If employee quits: next payday or when employee returns employer’s property.
• Tennessee: If employee is fired: next scheduled payday or within 21 days, whichever is later. If employee quits: next scheduled payday or within 21 days, whichever is later.
• Texas: If employee is fired: within six days. If employee quits: next payday.
• Utah: If employee is fired: within 24 hours. If employee quits: next regular payday.
• Vermont: If employee is fired: within 72 hours. If employee quits: next scheduled payday or, if no scheduled payday exists, the next Friday.
• Virginia: If employee is fired: next scheduled payday. If employee quits: next scheduled payday.
• Washington: If employee is fired: next pay period. If employee quits: next pay period.
• West Virginia: If employee is fired: within 72 hours. If employee quits: immediately if employee has given one pay period’s notice; otherwise, next regular payday.
• Wisconsin: If employee is fired: next payday or within one month, whichever is earlier. If termination is due to merger, relocation, or liquidation of business, within 24 hours. If employee quits: next payday.
• Wyoming: If employee is fired: five business days. If employee quits: five business days.

For more information on these state statutes, contact a Lead Counsel Labor and Employment attorney in your area today.