Final Paycheck Laws in Oregon
Oregon has specific final paycheck requirements
Oregon has strict final paycheck requirements. Fired employees must be paid by the end of the next business day. Employees who quit with at least 48 hours notice must be paid on their last day of work. Without notice, employers have 5 business days or until the next regular payday.
Final paycheck timelines
| If you are fired | By the end of the first business day after termination |
|---|---|
| If you quit | Immediately on last day if 48 hours notice given (excluding weekends/holidays); otherwise, within 5 business days or the next regular payday, whichever is first |
| Must include PTO payout? | Yes — Oregon requires payout of all accrued, unused vacation upon separation. Use-it-or-lose-it policies for accrued vacation are not enforceable at termination. |
| Penalties for late payment | Penalty wages equal to 8 hours of pay per day for each day late, up to 30 days. This is one of the most aggressive penalty structures in the country. |
| Statute | ORS SS 652.140, 652.150 |
Final Paycheck Laws in Oregon: what you need to know
Oregon has a state law that sets specific timelines for when employers must deliver a final paycheck after an employee separates from employment. The timeline typically depends on whether the employee quit or was terminated. Oregon has strict final paycheck requirements. Fired employees must be paid by the end of the next business day. Employees who quit with at least 48 hours notice must be paid on their last day of work. Without notice, employers have 5 business days or until the next regular payday.
If you are fired or laid off in Oregon, your employer must deliver your final paycheck By the end of the first business day after termination. If you quit, the timeline is Immediately on last day if 48 hours notice given (excluding weekends/holidays); otherwise, within 5 business days or the next regular payday, whichever is first. These timelines are legal requirements, not suggestions, and employers who miss them may face penalties.
Employers who fail to deliver the final paycheck on time face penalties in Oregon. Penalty wages equal to 8 hours of pay per day for each day late, up to 30 days. This is one of the most aggressive penalty structures in the country. These penalties serve as a deterrent against employers who might otherwise delay payment, and they provide compensation to workers for the harm caused by late payment.
In Oregon, the final paycheck must include Oregon requires payout of all accrued, unused vacation upon separation. Use-it-or-lose-it policies for accrued vacation are not enforceable at termination.. This means your employer cannot simply pay your regular wages and withhold your vacation balance. Check your final paycheck carefully to ensure all earned compensation is included.
For Oregon workers who are leaving a job, understanding the final paycheck timeline can help you plan your finances during the transition. If your employer does not deliver your final paycheck by the required deadline, document the delay and contact the Oregon Department of Labor or an employment attorney. You may be entitled to penalties in addition to the unpaid wages.
More Oregon workplace laws
Check other workplace law topics for Oregon:
Frequently asked questions about final paycheck laws in Oregon
By the end of the first business day after termination
Immediately on last day if 48 hours notice given (excluding weekends/holidays); otherwise, within 5 business days or the next regular payday, whichever is first
Yes. Oregon requires payout of all accrued, unused vacation upon separation. Use-it-or-lose-it policies for accrued vacation are not enforceable at termination.
Penalty wages equal to 8 hours of pay per day for each day late, up to 30 days. This is one of the most aggressive penalty structures in the country.
Document the amount owed, your last day of work, and any communications with your employer. File a wage complaint with the Oregon Department of Labor or consult an employment attorney.