The deadline, and what it depends on
It depends only on your last day. Weekends do not count toward the deadline; public holidays can push it later still.
Laid-off and suspended workers are paid by the next regular payday. An agreement with your employer to be paid differently is no defense for the employer. Commissions count as wages under Connecticut law.
If you were fired vs if you quit
- Fired or laid off: By the next business day.
- You quit: By your next regularly scheduled payday. The date depends on your pay schedule, not on when you left.
Unused PTO — is it owed?
Only if your employer's written policy or agreement promises it. Accrued vacation, holidays and sick days are owed at termination only if your employer's policy or union contract provides for payout. If it does, they are paid as wages at no less than your average rate for the accrual period. Check your handbook or offer letter for what it promises.
What happens if they are late
In a civil action you recover twice the full wages plus costs and attorney's fees; if the employer shows a good-faith belief it was complying with the law, the award is the wages themselves plus costs and fees (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-72).
How to file a claim in Connecticut
File a wage complaint with the Connecticut Department of Labor, Wage and Workplace Standards Division. Investigations cover the 2 years before the complaint. Filing is free, and you do not need a lawyer.
- Ask in writing first. Email creates a dated record.
- Send a short demand letter naming the amount, the deadline, and any penalty that applies in Connecticut.
- File the wage claim. Keep copies of pay stubs and your schedule — the time card calculator can total the unpaid hours for you.
Connecticut final paycheck: common questions
Can they hold my last check until I return my equipment?
No. In Connecticut your final wages are due by the deadline on this page whether or not you have returned a laptop, uniform or keys. Your employer can ask for the equipment back or pursue its cost separately, but federal law bars deductions for it that would cut your pay below minimum wage or eat into overtime.
Do I get paid for unused vacation?
Only if your employer's written policy or agreement promises it. Accrued vacation, holidays and sick days are owed at termination only if your employer's policy or union contract provides for payout. If it does, they are paid as wages at no less than your average rate for the accrual period. Check your handbook or offer letter for what it promises.
What if I quit without notice?
No. Quitting without notice does not forfeit anything you earned in Connecticut. Your final pay is due by your next regular payday, exactly as if you had given notice. Notice only changes the timing, and only where state law says so.
When is my final paycheck due in Connecticut if I am fired?
By the next business day. Everything you earned is due on that deadline, along with any unused vacation your state or your policy makes payable. If it arrives late, the section on penalties above explains what follows. Keep a note of the day you left and the day the check actually arrives, in case you need to file a claim.
What happens if my final paycheck is late in Connecticut?
In a civil action you recover twice the full wages plus costs and attorney's fees; if the employer shows a good-faith belief it was complying with the law, the award is the wages themselves plus costs and fees (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-72).
Spotted something wrong? Report an error.
Other states that also give the employer a fixed number of days: Alaska, District of Columbia and Oregon.
Worked across a state line? New York final paycheck law.