The rule.
Involuntary Termination
Day of termination — immediately
Voluntary Resignation
Within 72 hrs if no notice; immediately if notice given
PTO / Vacation Payout Required?
Yes — accrued vacation is wages by law
Penalty for Non-Compliance
Waiting time penalty: 1 day wages per day late, up to 30 days
Statute / Citation
CA Labor Code §§ 201-203, 227.3 — official source
Most complex state. Must pay at termination location. Use-it-or-lose-it PTO policies are prohibited.
Last verified: June 2026.
What's in the Final Pay & Termination Requirements workbook
What's in the workbook
Final Pay & Termination — every state covered. Visible items show the chapters; locked items reveal the structural depth.
- ✓State Reference
- ✓By Situation
- ✓Separation Checklist
- ✓Monthly Updates
- 🔒Day Of Separation
- 🔒Within 24–72 Hours
- 🔒Within 1 Week
- 🔒Retain Permanently
- 🔒By-situation grid (fired / resigned with notice / resigned without notice)
$39
Final Pay & Termination Requirements — instant download, Excel + Google Sheets, free monthly updates for life.
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