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Vacation Pay State Laws Chart: Overview

by Practical Law Labor & Employment

Law stated as of 28 December 2014 | Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, USA (National/Federal), Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

A Chart providing a 50-state survey, including the District of Columbia, on state laws governing paid vacation policies for private employers. Although federal law does not require employers to offer paid vacation, many do, and they must navigate a complex web of state-specific regulations. This Chart offers an overview of these differing requirements, outlining how states treat vacation pay as wages, the rules surrounding use-it-or-lose-it policies, and obligations for the payment of accrued, unused vacation upon employment termination. It clarifies how employment agreements, company policies, and state statutes interact to define an employee's right to earn, use, and be compensated for vacation time, helping to prevent potential wage and hour disputes.

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