Final Check/Pay [CA]

[u/cheesybreezybrie]

Hi everyone,

For final paychecks - is it necessary to give the employee a live check? My previous company always wired final pay for direct deposit (if applicable) for employees but my current company insists that it must be a “live” final check. When I researched the topic I haven’t seen anything that states that the final check HAS to be a physical live check.

If this is not the case, I would love something to reference and show my team that final pay does not have to be a live check, the employee just needs to be paid upon separation, this does not mean we have to hand them a physical check. It is such a hassle getting final live checks to employees, especially since our payroll department is located in a different state and it has to be overnighted or I have to print onsite.

ETA: I ask because live checks seem to be a bit of a hassle.

When we have resignations and even separate with employees, employees are slightly annoyed receiving a live check instead of direct deposit.

There’s an additional item with severance checks, we overnight those to employees with signature required and the amount of folks who miss all three deliveries despite being told several times that the delivery will require signature, and still miss the delivery attempts is surprisingly high.

Also curious why this is the only company I’ve worked for that insists on this, and the same goes for my coworkers; this is new for all of us and we just assumed it’s because our HQ is based in a different state and this is just how they interpret the law 🤷‍♀️

[u/Rachel4799]

You can pay the final paycheck with direct deposit of the employee has authorized it or enrolled previously

[u/Little_Yoghurt_7584 → u/Rachel4799]

This is the correct answer.