The Last Paycheck
La. R.S. 23:631 — final wages by the next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever comes first
Next payday or 15 days. When an employee is fired or quits, the employer pays what is due on or before the next regular payday, or no later than 15 days after the separation, whichever comes first.
- If the amount is disputed, the employer still pays the part that is not.
- Earned vacation pay is due if the employee was eligible for it under the employer's policy and had not taken it or been paid for it.
- A commission or bonus is due if it was earned and not modified under a written policy.
- No employer may make an employee sign a contract forfeiting earned wages on leaving before the contract ends.
An employer who does not pay is liable for either ninety days' wages at the daily rate, or full wages from the employee's demand until payment, whichever is less. A good faith dispute limits that to the wages owed plus interest. Reasonable attorney fees are added for a well founded suit filed after three days from the first demand.
Sources for this section (3)
- La. R.S. 23:631 — Discharge or resignation of employees; payment after termination of employment
- La. R.S. 23:632 — Liability of employer for failure to pay; attorney fees; good-faith exception
- La. R.S. 23:634 — Contract forfeiting wages on discharge unlawful
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Louisiana attorney.