Colorado Labor Laws Final Paycheck

Unpaid wage attorney in Denver, Colorado represent employees in wage issues including final paychecks and payments after termination of employment. Colorado employment law establishes rules for payment of wages that include final paycheck and other payments made as a result of termination of employment. Employees can contact the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment for many types of wage and hour claims.

However, final paycheck and other Colorado labor law claims may involve other claims or have other avenues available to pursue wage claims. Before filing a wage claim with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment you should consider talking to Denver employment lawyers about potential claims.

Colorado labor law final paycheck infographic

Colorado Wage Act, Colorado Wage Protection Act and C.R.S. 8-4-101

Colorado labor laws involving final paycheck, payments after termination, PTO payments and other wage issues generally exist under Colorado Revised Statutes C.R.S. 8-4-101 et seq. C.R.S 8-4-101 et seq. includes the Colorado Wage Act and its 2014 amendments from the Colorado Wage Protection Act. The Colorado Wage Protection Act improved the process for administrative wage claims to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment in addition to other amendments to the Colorado Wage Act. This employment statute involves:

  • Employer duties to maintain records of wage payments
  • Employer requirements to give employees records of wage payments
  • Permitted deductions to paychecks
  • Timing requirements for payment of wages
  • Payment of final paychecks
  • Litigation and administrative processes to pursue payments from employers for wages owed
  • Prohibitions on retaliation against employees who pursue payment of wages

Unpaid wages attorneys in Colorado help employees recover final paychecks and other wage payments under the Colorado Wage Act and Colorado Wage Protection Act. If you believe your employer failed to fully pay your wages at the end of your employment then you should speak with Denver employment lawyers about your unpaid wages claims.

Colorado labor laws for termination and payment of wages: C.R.S. 8-4-109

Colorado labor law establishes a schedule for payment of final paychecks from an employer after termination of employment. An employer who fails to pay wages owed or pay on time may be subject to penalties and other relief under Colorado Revised Statutes C.R.S. 8-4-109. Denver, Colorado unpaid wages attorneys help clients pursue this relief.

When an employer fires an employee then the employer must pay the employee’s final paycheck:

  • Immediately;
  • If the employer’s accounting department is unavailable at the time of termination then the final paycheck is due within the first six hours of its next regular workday;
  • Except if the accounting department is off-site then the employer must deliver the final paycheck within the first twenty-four hours of the start of its next regular workday.

If the employee quits or resigns then the employer must pay the employee’s final paycheck on the next regular payday.

In addition to setting a final paycheck schedule, Colorado Revised Statutes 8-4-109 also establishes processes to help employees recover unpaid wages. These include filing a lawsuit against the employer and an administrative charge process through the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

Colorado PTO payout law

Often employees in Colorado receive paid time off as a benefit of employment. PTO might be paid vacation time, paid sick leave, paid personal time and other forms of PTO. Under Colorado labor and employment law, an employer is not required to offer PTO. An employer might offer it as a benefit to attract valuable candidates or to maintain competitiveness in the labor market. Employees who work in a unionized workplace may also receive PTO through the terms of a collective bargaining agreement.

It is common for employers to offer to pay out accrued but unused PTO to employees at the end of the employment relationship. That helps employers avoid situations where employees burn through all their PTO right before the leave an employer.

Under Colorado employment law an employer is not required to offer vacation pay or pay accrued but unused PTO. However, like any other form of wages, if your employer refuses to pay accrued but unused vacation pay then you should contact an unpaid wage attorney in Denver, Colorado to discuss your situation.

Under Colorado law employers only have to pay accrued but unused vacation pay. Other types of PTO like sick pay or personal leave pay only must be paid out upon an employer’s voluntary policy.

Unpaid wage attorneys in Colorado for final paycheck problems

Employees owed some or all of their wages after the end of the employment relationship should contact an unpaid wage attorney in Denver or other cities in Colorado to discuss options to recover wages owed. Unpaid wage attorneys in Colorado understand wage and hour laws in Colorado as well as federal laws like the Fair Labor Standards Act.