Practice Area

Timely Payment of Wages

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Get paid on time

The Arizona Wage Statute governs timely payment of wages due to employees in Arizona.

When an employee is discharged by the employer, the employee must be paid the wages due within seven working days or by the end of the next regular pay period, whichever is sooner. When an employee quits, the employee must be paid all wages due by the next regular pay day after the termination occurred.

Under Arizona law, “wages” means non‑discretionary compensation due to an employee for labor or services rendered that the employee has a reasonable expectation to be paid.

If your employer has a policy or practice of paying certain wages, then they have to be paid to you in full within the timeframe set by Arizona law. For example, your employer may have a policy to pay employees who resign their unused Paid Sick Time or paid time off. That would create a reasonable expectation to receive those wages within the time constraints set by Arizona law for payment of wages when an employee is terminated or quits.

💼Arizona Legal Definition of "Wages":
        "Wages" include earned bonuses, commissions, and unused paid leave when there is a reasonable expectation of payment under A.R.S. § 23-350(7). Employer policies or past practices that promise payment create legally enforceable wage obligations subject to timely payment deadlines.
    

At Frankel Syverson PLLC, our experienced Arizona wage attorneys help workers enforce their right to prompt payment and recover the wages they are legally owed.

Our Arizona Wage Payment Attorneys Have Extensive Experience

While Arizona law is clear about when wages must be paid, employers sometimes fail to make payment, delay payment, withhold commissions, or make improper deductions from an employee’s final paycheck. Some businesses claim payroll processing errors or corporate approval delays justify holding paychecks longer than allowed by law or simply not paying employees what they are due. Others may refuse to pay earned bonuses, especially when an employee leaves voluntarily.

Our attorneys have extensive experience identifying wage payment violations across industries, including:

Retail, restaurant, and hospitality workers: Denied final paychecks.
Sales professionals: Whose earned commissions were withheld after termination.
Healthcare employees: Whose employers refused to pay out unused paid sick leave, despite company policies indicating those benefits would be paid at separation.
Hourly employees: Required to wait until a later pay period for wages already earned without their consent.

At Frankel Syverson PLLC, we’ve successfully represented Arizona workers across many industries who were not paid wages they were due and helped them recover the compensation they were rightfully owed.

Common Wage Payment Violations

Our firm has handled cases involving a wide range of wage payment violations under Arizona law, including:

Failure to pay wages due, including final wages after termination or resignation.
Withholding commissions or earned bonuses beyond legal deadlines.
Not paying out unused Paid Sick Time or PTO when company policy or past practice created a reasonable expectation of payment.
Delaying regular paychecks without a lawful cause.

📅Terminated Employee Payment Deadline:
        Discharged employees must receive final wages within seven working days or by the next regular payday, whichever is sooner, under A.R.S. § 23-353(A).
    

Examples of Wage Payment Cases

Our Arizona wage and hour attorneys can represent employees who are due unpaid wages, including:

Retail workers who were fired and denied their paycheck.
Sales professionals whose commissions were withheld after termination, despite contractual agreements guaranteeing timely payment.
Healthcare workers whose employers refused to pay unused sick leave upon resignation, even though the company historically paid it out.
Hourly employees forced to wait for an additional pay cycle before receiving wages for hours already worked.
Construction workers whose earned bonuses were unlawfully delayed until the end of a project, after their employment had ended.

How Our Attorneys Can Help You

At Frankel Syverson PLLC, we offer guidance through the legal process of recovering unpaid wages:

Initial Consultation: We evaluate your specific situation and explain your legal options regarding unpaid wages.
Documentation Review: We help assess your employment records, pay stubs, and other relevant documentation.
Legal Representation: Our attorneys can handle the legal aspects of your wage claim, from filing necessary paperwork to representing you throughout the process.
Pursuing Available Remedies: We seek all legally available remedies, which may include unpaid wages and potential statutory damages in certain cases.

Understanding Your Legal Options

Arizona law mandates strict payment deadlines for wages earned by employees. Employers must:

Pay final wages within seven working days or by the next regular payday for discharged employees, whichever is sooner.
Pay final wages by the next regular payday for employees who resign.

📆Resigned Employee Payment Deadline:
        Employees who quit must be paid all wages due by the next regular payday following termination under A.R.S. § 23-353(B). Regular payday means the employer's established payroll schedule, not an arbitrary future date chosen by the employer.
    

Include non-discretionary bonuses, commissions, and any paid leave payouts if company policy or practice creates a reasonable expectation of payment.

Prohibit deductions or withholdings from final paychecks unless legally authorized.

Failure to comply allows employees to pursue civil wage claims or lawsuits for:

Payment of overdue wages.
Interest on unpaid amounts.
Reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs in some cases.
In some cases, additional damages for bad-faith wage withholding.If you believe your employer delayed or withheld wages you earned, it’s important to act quickly. Arizona wage laws have specific time limits for filing claims, and waiting too long could impact your ability to recover unpaid compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When must an employer pay final wages to a terminated employee in Arizona?

Under Arizona law, an employee who is terminated must receive all final wages within seven working days or by the next regular payday, whichever occurs first.

What about if I quit my job — when do I get my final paycheck?

If you voluntarily resign, your employer must pay your final wages by the next regularly scheduled payday following your final day of work.

Does my employer have to pay out my unused PTO or sick leave when I leave?

If your employer has a written policy, contractual obligation, or consistent past practice of paying out unused paid leave, Arizona law likely considers those amounts as wages that must be paid by the applicable deadline for timely payment of wages.

What legal penalties can my employer face for delaying wage payments?

Employers may be required to pay the full amount of unpaid wages, interest, attorneys’ fees, and litigation costs. In cases of bad-faith withholding, additional damages may be awarded.

Don’t Let Your Employer Hold Your Paycheck Hostage.

Getting paid all your wages due is your legal right, and no employer has the authority to delay or withhold wages you’ve already earned. At Frankel Syverson PLLC, our attorneys hold employers accountable and help Arizona workers recover the compensation they are lawfully owed.

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