In most states, employers are required to pay workers on a regular basis. In most cases, employers opt to pay workers on a weekly or biweekly schedule. However, it may only be necessary for an employer to give written notice as to when an employee is going to receive his or her paycheck. For those who are classified as independent contractors, the pay schedule is usually negotiated as part of the agreement between the two parties.
State laws may also determine when an employee must be paid depending on that worker’s job. For instance, farm workers may need to be paid on a specific schedule that employers in other industries don’t need to abide by. Workers may also be put on a different pay period based on their classification. Those who are exempt from overtime may be paid on a different schedule than those who are not exempt from overtime.
Workers who are not paid as agreed when they began employment may have several options to get their money. It may be possible to contact the employer about the late paycheck as an informal means to settle the issue. It may also be possible to contact state labor officials or an attorney to help with the case. For smaller amounts, a small claims court may be the right venue to take action against an employer.
Employees or other workers who are not paid on time may wish to take action against that employer. Being proactive may make it possible for an employee or independent contractor to get what he or she is owed. An attorney can assist in determining the best way to achieve this result.
Source: FindLaw, “Payday Laws and Your Right to a Timely Paycheck”, accessed on Feb. 27, 2015
