California provides workers with protections that aren’t present in many other states. These typically are stricter than federal standards. One area where this state has comprehensive laws is pay periods.
Employees in California should understand the requirements for paydays that are set by the state. These laws include how often the employees must be paid, how overtime pay is handled and what happens for an employee’s last paycheck.
Standard pay periods
Employers in California must pay employees at least twice each month. The days that they’re paid must be set in advance. The employer can choose any pay schedule that suits their needs, but the pay can’t come more than seven days past the end of the set pay period. Twice per month, weekly or every other week are the more common pay periods that are used in California.
Overtime hours have a special pay requirement. These hours must be paid no later than the pay period’s payday after the overtime was worked.
Pay for termination or resignation
In most cases, employees who are terminated or quit must be paid within 72 hours of their final day of work. There are some exceptions, such as a 24-hour limit for certain people in the oil drilling industry. Collective bargaining agreements or employment contracts may set different requirements for the employer to follow.
California employees should never have to fight for the money they’re due. Instead, they should be able to count on their employer to pay them when they should without giving them any issues. When there are issues with pay, the employee may opt to take legal action against the employer. Working with someone familiar with these matters may be beneficial because these cases can be complex.