Unpaid Wages Demand Letter in Oregon
A letter asking an employer to pay wages you are owed, before you file a wage claim with your state labor agency or the U.S. Department of Labor. Keep copies of pay stubs, schedules and messages.
What Oregon law says
| Final paycheck if fired or laid off | By the end of the next business day after being fired or laid off (also by the next business day when employer and worker mutually agree to end the job). Late final pay can trigger a penalty wage of 8 hours of pay per day for up to 30 days. Source: ORS 652.140; ORS 652.150 |
|---|---|
| Final paycheck if you quit | With at least 48 hours' notice (not counting weekends and holidays): on the last day of work, or the next business day if the last day is a weekend or holiday. With less than 48 hours' notice: within five business days or on the next regular payday, whichever comes first. Source: ORS 652.140 |
| Minimum wage | Depends on where you work. From July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027: $16.80 per hour inside the Portland metro urban growth boundary; $15.55 standard rate (Benton, Clatsop, Columbia, Deschutes, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk, Tillamook, Wasco, Yamhill, and parts of Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington outside the Portland boundary); $14.55 in non-urban counties (Baker, Coos, Crook, Curry, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa and Wheeler). Workers are generally paid the rate for the county where they work at least half their hours. The same minimum applies to minors, and there is no training wage. Rates are adjusted for inflation every July 1. The July 1, 2027 rates had not been announced as of this update. Source: ORS 653.025 |
Fill it in
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[today's date]
To: [employer name], [employer address]
From: [your name], [your address]
I worked for you as [job title] from [start date] to [end date or present]. You have not paid me $[amount owed] for [the hours, overtime, final paycheck or tips owed], covering [dates owed].
Please pay this amount by [payment deadline] by [payment method].
If I do not receive payment, I plan to file a wage claim with [state labor agency] and pursue any other remedies the law allows.
[your name] [phone or email]
Unpaid Wages Demand Letter for other states · Oregon tenant rights
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.