The deadline, and what it depends on
It depends only on your last day, not on your pay schedule — the clock starts when the job ends.
A worker who quits is paid on the last regular payday; if there is no regular payday, on the following Friday.
If you were fired vs if you quit
- Fired or laid off: Within 72 hours.
- 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. Vermont's final pay law (21 V.S.A. § 342) does not address unused vacation, so whether it is paid out depends on your employer's written policy or agreement. 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
An employer who pays late forfeits twice the unpaid wages, recovered in a civil action with costs and attorney's fees — but only if the wages are still unpaid when you sue (21 V.S.A. § 347).
How to file a claim in Vermont
Bring a civil action under 21 V.S.A. § 347 while the wages remain unpaid. 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 Vermont.
- File the wage claim. Keep copies of pay stubs and your schedule — the time card calculator can total the unpaid hours for you.
Vermont final paycheck: common questions
Can they hold my last check until I return my equipment?
No. In Vermont 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. Vermont's final pay law (21 V.S.A. § 342) does not address unused vacation, so whether it is paid out depends on your employer's written policy or agreement. 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 Vermont. 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 Vermont if I am fired?
Within 72 hours. 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 Vermont?
An employer who pays late forfeits twice the unpaid wages, recovered in a civil action with costs and attorney's fees — but only if the wages are still unpaid when you sue (21 V.S.A. § 347). Bring a civil action under 21 V.S.A. § 347 while the wages remain unpaid.
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Vermont overtime rules and calculator →
Three other states also give the employer a fixed number of days: District of Columbia, Oregon and Texas.
Worked across a state line? New York final paycheck law.