Reuse Request

Do I have to give severance pay when I fire someone?

Severance pay is not required under California law. The employer may follow their own policy, past practice or union contract, if applicable.

Q&As

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May we deduct new hire sign-on bonuses from a final paycheck?
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What if an employee never picks up their final paycheck?
Does an employee need to be present to be fired?
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An employee will be terminated tomorrow morning upon arrival; do I have to pay anything?
We have an exempt employee who is being discharged tomorrow, so what issues am I faced with in regard to final pay?
When is a final paycheck due?
What happens if a final paycheck doesn't get to an employee on time?
What should I do if a former employee leaves behind personal items?
How do we handle final pay, equipment return for terminated exempt employee?
Do I have to pay out an employee’s vacation at the higher minimum wage rate even though the employee earned all of it at the previous year’s lower rate?
Is there a process to follow when an employee gives notice but is let go at once?
If an employee quits before completing a W-4 tax withholding form, can we just pay him as an independent contractor or withhold his final paycheck until he completes his W-4?
If an employee quits but has an outstanding loan owed to the company, can it be deducted from the employee’s final pay?
Is there anything an employer can do to recover an outstanding loan from an employee upon termination?
How do we give our remote employees their final pay?
If a salesperson leaves my company, when are their final commissions due?
I suspended an employee and now I want to terminate her. If she comes in and is terminated during a brief meeting, how much reporting time pay do I owe her for that meeting?
If I know I'm going to suspend or terminate an employee, should I have the employee report to work anyway?
Is it true that if an employee authorizes a deduction in writing at the time of termination, negative vacation/PTO can be deducted from the final paycheck?