LALouisiana final paycheck law
If you are fired in Louisiana, your final pay is due by the next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever is earlier. If you quit, it is due by the next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever is earlier.
| If you | Your last check is due |
|---|---|
| were fired or laid off | Next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever is earlier |
| quit | Next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever is earlier |
| have unused vacation | It must be paid. Earned but unused vacation must be paid when you leave the job. |
| are paid late | After you ask for it in writing, up to 90 days of wages as a penalty plus attorney fees if the employer fails to pay. |
| want to read the law | La. R.S. 23:631, 23:632checked October 29, 2026 |
When is my last check due? Louisiana calculator
What these words mean
- Final paycheck
- The last pay you are owed after a job ends: all hours worked and, in some states, your unused vacation.
- Late-pay penalty
- Extra money some states make an employer pay when your final check is late.
- Payout
- Being paid cash for paid time off you earned but never used.
- Wage complaint
- A free claim you file with your state labor office or the U.S. Department of Labor when you are not paid what the law requires.
Questions
I was fired in Louisiana. When do I get my last check?
Next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever is earlier. It must include the vacation you earned but did not use.
I quit my job in Louisiana. When do I get my last check?
Next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever is earlier.
What if my employer pays my last check late in Louisiana?
After you ask for it in writing, up to 90 days of wages as a penalty plus attorney fees if the employer fails to pay.
Will my unused vacation be in my last check in Louisiana?
Yes, the law requires it. Earned but unused vacation must be paid when you leave the job. See Louisiana PTO payout rules.
Can my employer keep my last check until I return my uniform or laptop?
No. Money you earned is yours. An employer can only take out what the law or a signed agreement allows. If the check is late, file a free wage complaint with the Louisiana labor office.