Form of Wage Payment

All paychecks must be issued to employees in California must be negotiable and payable in cash, on demand and without discount at an established place of business in the state, the name and address of which must appear on the paycheck. At the time the paycheck is issued and for at least 30 days after, sufficient funds or credit in the payroll account must exist for the paycheck’s payment.¹

Paying any wage with a check backed by insufficient funds is unlawful. The dishonored check constitutes evidence that you violated the law.² Payment by means of an insufficient check can subject an employer to waiting time penalties.³ However, the Legislature did not⁴