A contractor lays off three carpenters on Wednesday at the end of a framing project. Their final wages must be paid:
Explanation
Labor Code §201(a): when an employer discharges an employee - a layoff is a discharge - the wages earned and unpaid are due and payable immediately, at the layoff itself. The 72-hour rule belongs to §202(a) and applies to an employee who QUITS without giving 72 hours' notice. There is no next-payday grace period for a layoff, whatever its reason. And 30 days is not a deadline to pay at all: §203 continues the unpaid wages as a penalty for up to 30 days, which is what a late employer owes on top of the wages.
Law Reference: Labor Code §201(a); §202(a); §203This topic, taught in full in the CSLB Law & Business guide. CSLB Law & Business — Complete Study Guide (2026) — PDF + EPUB, $24.99 · 14-day refund →
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