Being fired can be very traumatic for an employee. In many cases, the job loss occurs with little or no warning, leaving the individual struggling to find a new source of income. There are often a number of issues to consider, such as finding a new job, finding health insurance, and receiving a good recommendation from your company.
One issue you may not consider immediately is your vacation pay. Under federal law and California law, companies are not required to provide vacation pay. If the company does provide you with time off, it is not legally required to pay you for those vacation days. However, many companies do offer paid vacation days to their employees. Employees may receive a specific number of days or hours of paid time off. Under state law, if an employer offers to pay for vacation time, and then fails to pay it, the company is breaking the law.
If you are fired or laid off from a job in California, or you choose to leave, it’s critical that you be fairly compensated for your time, which includes vacation benefits that you have accrued but have not been paid for. Legally, vacation benefits are considered a part of your pay, and your employer is not allowed to refuse to pay it or to take it away from you.
If you have lost your job, or left your job voluntarily, and your company is refusing to pay you for your accrued vacation time, it may be time to speak with an attorney. Call Conal Doyle, Los Angeles employment law attorney, at 310-385-0567. He can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.