Can employers hold paychecks until certain time of day?

Are employers allowed to hold a paycheck until a designated time of day on payday? Friday is the day we get paid at my job, and I went in at 1:00PM to pick it up, but the new manager said there is a new rule that we cannot get our checks until at least 3:00PM. I demanded my check right then, and the problem escalated to where I'm now on the chopping block (im still young and I have a big mouth). What I want to know though is if they can legally put a time constraint on picking up checks on payday... the checks always come in the day before. (This is in Colorado)

michr

yes the employer may set a time as long as they are within the states mandated guidelines.
http://www.coworkforce.com/lab/WageActFactSheet.pdf

whatever

Of course, why wouldn't they be able to? They could say, "From now on you will get paid on Mondays rather than Fridays." They just have to pay you.

I've worked at places where I got paid on the 1st and the 15th, and places where I got paid every other Friday. Now I am being paid every other Wednesday, but since I have direct deposit, it doesn't really show up in my account until Thursday am. Some places pay you on Friday for the work you did that week, other places pay you on Friday for the work you did the week before. (So you have to work for them for two weeks before you get your first weekly pay check.) Every place is different. The boss makes the rules. If you don't like it, you find someplace else to work.

Judy

Well sure they can. Maybe they need that time to get them sorted.

If you had made a special trip in to pick yours up, and this rule hadn't been publicized, many managers would have done something to try to get your check for you. But if you just started in mouthing off, no surprise they didn't, or that you are now "on the chopping block". How old are you, anyway? You say you're still young - if you are old enough to hold a job, you are old enough to control your mouth.

Reena

Look at the big Employment Poster that has to be up in a location where employees see it. The one that states what the min. wage is for your state. If you study it closer you will find a section that talks about paydays (weekly, biweekly) and on what day and TIME you will get paid.

If on that poster it says that payday is on a Friday at 3 p.m. then yes, your manager can hold the checks until exactly 3 p.m. on the Friday you get paid.

The fact that the checks are sent out early to your manager does not change the fact that payday is on Friday at a certain time.
You forget that there has to be enough money in the account that covers the paychecks and when you run off with your paycheck too early then your company may end up paying a lot of fees to cover a check that was cashed too early. Right now the credit crunch is so bad that many employers have to be a lot stricter with their rules and pay checks that aren't due until 3 p.m. on payday can not allowed to be cashed any earlier to make sure the account is covered.

bluegoat114

yes they can (retired IBM exec mgr)

Angie

Some companies choose to hold paychecks until the end of the day. I don't believe there are any laws about this as long as you get paid that day. It sounds like you don't work everyday, and that you stopped by special to pick up your check. I know of no reason why they shouldn't have given it to you since you would just be leaving. Just a suggestion for the future, if it's available at your place of employment -- set up direct deposit. That way you can check your account online and your funds are immediately available.

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