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.
With at least 48 hours' notice (not counting weekends and holidays), final pay is due on your last day — or the next business day if that falls on a weekend or holiday. Employers may not delay a paycheck until you return employer-owned items.
If you were fired vs if you quit
- Fired or laid off: By the next business day.
- You quit: Within 5 business days of your last day or by your next regular payday, whichever comes first.
Unused PTO — is it owed?
Only if your employer's written policy or agreement promises it. Oregon treats vacation, holiday and severance pay as wage agreements set by the employer's policy or contract. The law does not require payout, but an employer must honor the policy it has established. Check your handbook, offer letter or any PTO policy you signed; if it says accrued time is paid out, that promise is enforceable.
What happens if they are late
A penalty of 8 hours' pay at your regular rate for each day the final paycheck is late, up to 30 days.
How to file a claim in Oregon
File a wage claim with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI). 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 Oregon.
- File the wage claim. Keep copies of pay stubs and your schedule — the time card calculator can total the unpaid hours for you.
Oregon final paycheck: common questions
Can they hold my last check until I return my equipment?
No. In Oregon 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. Oregon treats vacation, holiday and severance pay as wage agreements set by the employer's policy or contract. The law does not require payout, but an employer must honor the policy it has established. Check your handbook, offer letter or any PTO policy you signed; if it says accrued time is paid out, that promise is enforceable.
What if I quit without notice?
No. Quitting without notice does not forfeit anything you earned in Oregon. It is due within 5 business days of your last day or by your next regular payday, whichever comes first, 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 Oregon 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 Oregon?
A penalty of 8 hours' pay at your regular rate for each day the final paycheck is late, up to 30 days. File a wage claim with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI). Filing a claim is free, and you do not need a lawyer.
Spotted something wrong? Report an error.
Oregon overtime rules and calculator →
Three other states also give the employer a fixed number of days: District of Columbia, Texas and Vermont.
Worked across a state line? California final paycheck law and Washington final paycheck law.