Final paycheck deadline & waiting-time penalty.
California requires final wages on a tight clock — immediately for involuntary terminations, within 72 hours for most quits. When the employer is late, Lab Code § 203 imposes up to 30 days of wages as a penalty.
Enter the facts
Use the regular rate — annual salary ÷ 260, or hourly × hours/day.
Fill in the facts.
Termination type, last day, paid date or unpaid, and the daily wage rate.
Reference math, not legal advice. The waiting-time penalty under Lab Code § 203 requires willful non-payment — narrow good-faith disputes can avoid it. Penalty calculation also depends on the regular-rate calculation (commissions, bonuses, expense reimbursements). For cases where the math drives a real decision, confirm with Think Legal, P.C..
Get the pay practices right before they become claims.
We audit pay practices, draft compliant handbook policies, and structure terminations so final-pay timing never becomes a penalty.