What if I haven't gotten paid on payday?

Asked by: Josefa Cummerata  |  Last update: December 23, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (18 votes)

If the regular payday for the last pay period an employee worked has passed and the employee has not been paid, contact the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division or the state labor department. DOL also has mechanisms in place for the recovery of back wages.

What happens if I don't get paid on payday?

What Happens If My Employer Is Late With My Paycheck in California? If your employer fails to pay you on payday, you may have recourse by filing a wage claim to recover unpaid wages. In California, if your employer misses a scheduled payday, you can take action by sending a written notice to request payment.

Why didn't I get my direct deposit on Payday?

Your direct deposit may not show up in your account due to processing time, incorrect account information, issues, or payment delays. Contact your bank or the payment sender to investigate the matter further.

What happens if your paycheck doesn't come on time?

You can either file a wage claim with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (the Labor Commissioner's Office), or bring an action in court against your former employer to recover the wages if they are still due you, and to claim the waiting time penalty.

What happens if I don't get paid when I'm supposed to?

If you don't get paid promptly, you can file an unpaid wages claim with the state or federal Department of Labor.

My employer routinely pays us late, what can we do?

38 related questions found

What if I haven't received my paycheck yet?

If the regular payday for the last pay period an employee worked has passed and the employee has not been paid, contact the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division or the state labor department. The Department also has mechanisms in place for the recovery of back wages.

What can I do if my employer hasnt paid me yet?

If a paycheck is late, an employee may be able to file a wage claim to recover their wages. If an employer has an established payroll period and fails to pay a California employee on the scheduled payday, said employee can send a written notice to their employer requesting payment.

Can payday be delayed?

Payroll can be delayed for several reasons, such as: Bank Holidays: Financial institutions are closed, causing a delay. Technical Issues: Problems with payroll software or hardware. Human Error: Incorrect data entry or delayed approval from supervisors.

What if my boss didn't pay me all my hours?

To pursue your own claim for unpaid wages, you should file a wage claim with the Labor Commissioner's Wage Claim Adjudication Unit, in addition to filing a BOFE report. A notice of your wage claim will be sent to your employer. CALIFORNIA LABOR LAWS PROTECT ALL WORKERS REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS.

Why have I not been paid yet?

Raising a pay issue with your employer

It's usually best to first raise the problem informally by talking with your employer. This can help resolve it quickly if there's been a mistake. If you cannot resolve it informally, you can raise a grievance. This is where you make a formal complaint to your employer.

Why hasn't my paycheck hit yet?

If you have a late direct deposit, there are several possible explanations, such as bank holidays, processing errors, incorrect bank account information, payroll processing timelines, and other delays.

What happens if payroll is submitted late?

One to five days late results in a 2% penalty. Six to 15 days late results in a 5% penalty. 16 days late or within 10 days of the first IRS notice results in a 10% penalty. 10 days after the first IRS notice results in a maximum penalty of 15%

What time does direct deposit hit?

Direct deposit is usually processed before 9 am on your scheduled payday. If a payday falls on a weekend or holiday, the deposit may be delayed to the next business day, or your employer may schedule it so it occurs early.

What happens if you are late on a payday loan?

The payday lender might send your loan to collections. Then there will be more fees and costs. If you do not pay the debt while it is in collections, the collection agency might try to sue you to get what you owe. To avoid collection actions, try talking to the manager of the store where you got the payday loan.

How long does an employer have to correct a payroll when it is wrong?

For example, California Wage Law includes penalties for late paychecks or underpayment mistakes. Employees in California are entitled to a full day of wages at their regular rate for each day it takes their employer to fix the mistake (up to a total of 30 days).

Can you sue your boss for paying you late?

Yes, you can. In California, employers must pay their employees by specific deadlines. If they don't, you have the right to file a wage claim or lawsuit.

Can I sue my employer for not giving me hours?

A: In California, employment laws protect workers from discrimination and unfair treatment in the workplace. If you believe that you're being discriminated against at your job, particularly because of your race, or that your reduction in hours is a form of unfair treatment, you may have grounds to take legal action.

Is it illegal for your boss to not let you talk about pay?

An employer may not prohibit an employee from disclosing his or her own wages, discussing the wages of others, inquiring about another employee's wages, or aiding or encouraging any other employee to exercise rights under the Equal Pay Act.

Why is my DailyPay late?

If what is available now in DailyPay has not been updated, please check to see that you have correctly logged your hours. Your earnings can potentially be delayed by the kind of work you're doing, how it's being reported or how much data is being entered by your employer's payroll team at one time.

Can you refuse to work if you haven't been paid?

Legally, you may have the right to refuse work if your employer hasn't paid you, but this can vary by state. Always seek legal advice before taking such actions.

What happens if I don't get my direct deposit on payday?

If your direct deposit is late, contact your employer to confirm you submitted the correct deposit account information. And if everything checks out, then contact your bank to see if there's a problem on their end.

What do I do if I haven't gotten paid?

File a complaint with the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. File a suit in small claims court or superior court for the amount owed. Consider hiring a labor attorney for more significant cases involving late paychecks or payday laws.

What do I do if I'm not getting paid?

What to do when you haven't been paid
  1. 1 Review the terms of your contract. If you have a written contract, the first thing to do is to read it carefully. ...
  2. 2 Send a reminder. ...
  3. 3 Send a letter of demand. ...
  4. 4 Get help with dispute resolution. ...
  5. 5 Use a debt collection agency. ...
  6. 6 Take legal action.

Should I go to work if I didn't get paid?

If the problem happened recently, it's usually best to carry on working while you try and get your employer to pay you. If you refuse to work, you might be breaking your contract, so your employer might dismiss you.