MAMassachusetts final paycheck law
If you are fired in Massachusetts, your final pay is due immediately, on the day you are fired. If you quit, it is due by the next regular payday.
Immediatelyif fired or laid off
Next paydayif you quit
Paid outunused vacation
| If you | Your last check is due |
|---|---|
| were fired or laid off | Immediately, on the day you are fired |
| quit | Next regular payday |
| have unused vacation | It must be paid. Earned but unused vacation is wages and must be paid when you leave the job. |
| are paid late | Three times the unpaid amount (3x) for late or unpaid wages under the Wage Act. |
| want to read the law | M.G.L. c. 149, s. 148, 150checked October 29, 2026 |
When is my last check due? Massachusetts calculator
What you are owedupdates as you type
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 Massachusetts. When do I get my last check?
Immediately, on the day you are fired. It must include the vacation you earned but did not use.
I quit my job in Massachusetts. When do I get my last check?
Next regular payday.
What if my employer pays my last check late in Massachusetts?
Three times the unpaid amount (3x) for late or unpaid wages under the Wage Act.
Will my unused vacation be in my last check in Massachusetts?
Yes, the law requires it. Earned but unused vacation is wages and must be paid when you leave the job. See Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts labor office.