Final Paycheck Laws in Colorado
When a Colorado employer must pay your last paycheck if you are fired, laid off or quit, and whether unused vacation must be paid out.
Short answer: Immediately. If the payroll office is not regularly open, pay is due within 6 hours after the start of its next regular workday, or within 24 hours if the payroll office is off-site (delivered to the worksite, local office or the employee's mailing address). C.R.S. § 8-4-109(1)(a); CDLE INFO #3A
| Final paycheck if fired or laid off | Immediately. If the payroll office is not regularly open, pay is due within 6 hours after the start of its next regular workday, or within 24 hours if the payroll office is off-site (delivered to the worksite, local office or the employee's mailing address). If the employee makes a written demand or files a complaint, unpaid wages must be paid within 14 days or penalties may apply (C.R.S. § 8-4-109(3)). |
|---|---|
| Final paycheck if you quit | By the next regular payday. |
| Unused vacation / PTO payout | Yes. Earned, unused vacation pay (including PTO that can be used for vacation) must be paid when employment ends for any reason, whether the employee is fired or quits. Policies that forfeit earned vacation are void. Sick leave or other leave limited to specific needs does not have to be paid out. |
Where to get help in Colorado
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), Division of Labor Standards and Statistics
- File a complaint or claim
More Colorado employment law
- Minimum Wage in Colorado
- Meal and Rest Break Laws in Colorado
- Wrongful Termination in Colorado
- Paid Sick Leave in Colorado
- Non-Compete Agreements in Colorado
- All Colorado employment law rules
FAQ
When do I get my final paycheck if I'm fired in Colorado?
Immediately. If the payroll office is not regularly open, pay is due within 6 hours after the start of its next regular workday, or within 24 hours if the payroll office is off-site (delivered to the worksite, local office or the employee's mailing address).
When do I get my final paycheck if I quit in Colorado?
By the next regular payday.
Does an employer have to pay out unused PTO in Colorado?
Yes. Earned, unused vacation pay (including PTO that can be used for vacation) must be paid when employment ends for any reason, whether the employee is fired or quits. Policies that forfeit earned vacation are void. Sick leave or other leave limited to specific needs does not have to be paid out.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.