Final Paycheck Laws in Kentucky
When a Kentucky employer must pay your last paycheck if you are fired, laid off or quit, and whether unused vacation must be paid out.
Short answer: All wages earned must be paid by the next regular payday or 14 days after the separation, whichever comes later. KRS 337.055
| Final paycheck if fired or laid off | All wages earned must be paid by the next regular payday or 14 days after the separation, whichever comes later. Source: KRS 337.055 |
|---|---|
| Final paycheck if you quit | Same rule as for a firing: by the next regular payday or 14 days after leaving, whichever comes later, with or without notice. Source: KRS 337.055 |
| Unused vacation / PTO payout | Kentucky law counts vested vacation pay as wages, so earned vacation that has vested under the employer's policy or agreement must be paid like other wages. Whether vacation has vested depends on the employer's written policy or agreement. Source: KRS 337.010(1)(c) |
Where to get help in Kentucky
- Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet, Department of Workplace Standards, Division of Wages and Hours
- File a complaint or claim
More Kentucky employment law
- Minimum Wage in Kentucky
- Meal and Rest Break Laws in Kentucky
- Wrongful Termination in Kentucky
- All Kentucky employment law rules
FAQ
When do I get my final paycheck if I'm fired in Kentucky?
All wages earned must be paid by the next regular payday or 14 days after the separation, whichever comes later.
When do I get my final paycheck if I quit in Kentucky?
Same rule as for a firing: by the next regular payday or 14 days after leaving, whichever comes later, with or without notice.
Does an employer have to pay out unused PTO in Kentucky?
Kentucky law counts vested vacation pay as wages, so earned vacation that has vested under the employer's policy or agreement must be paid like other wages.
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.