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Maine final paycheck law: when your last check is due

In Maine, if you were fired or laid off, your final wages are generally due by the next regular payday or within 2 weeks of a demand, whichever is sooner. If you quit after giving notice, they are generally due by the next regular payday or within 2 weeks of a demand, whichever is sooner. If you quit without notice, they are generally due by the next regular payday or within 2 weeks of a demand, whichever is sooner.

Deadlines at a glance

Fired or laid off

Final wages due by the next regular payday or within 2 weeks of a demand, whichever is sooner

Quit with notice

Final wages due by the next regular payday or within 2 weeks of a demand, whichever is sooner

Quit without notice

Final wages due by the next regular payday or within 2 weeks of a demand, whichever is sooner

Statute

No state-specific final-pay statute

Wage claim agency

Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards

What counts as wages in your final paycheck

Final pay usually covers more than your last regular hours. Depending on your state and your employer's policy, it can include unpaid regular and overtime hours, earned commissions, bonuses that have already been earned, accrued unused vacation or PTO where state law or company policy treats it as earned wages, and unreimbursed business expenses.

What to do if the Maine deadline passes

  1. Write down the facts: your last day worked, the amount you believe you are owed, and any messages from your employer about payment.
  2. Send a written demand letter that names the Maine deadline and gives your employer a short, specific window to pay.
  3. Send it by email and by certified mail with return receipt, and keep proof of delivery. See how certified mail works.
  4. If the deadline in your letter passes without payment, file a wage claim with the Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards.

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Common questions

When is my final paycheck due in Maine if I was fired?

In Maine, final wages are generally due by the next regular payday or within 2 weeks of a demand, whichever is sooner after an involuntary termination.

When is my final paycheck due in Maine if I quit?

If you gave notice, final wages are generally due by the next regular payday or within 2 weeks of a demand, whichever is sooner. If you quit without notice, they are generally due by the next regular payday or within 2 weeks of a demand, whichever is sooner.

Can my employer be penalized for paying late in Maine?

Maine does not have a widely applied waiting-time penalty specific to final pay, but unpaid wages can still be pursued through a wage claim with the Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards.

Who do I file an unpaid wage claim with in Maine?

Unpaid wage claims in Maine are handled by the Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards.

Other states

This page is general information, not legal advice. Last Check GPT is not a law firm. State rules change and exceptions apply; verify with the Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards before relying on a deadline.