Retrieving my last paycheck - Do they have to mail it?

Long story short: I worked part-time for a really crappy company for awhile while I was out of work and needed the money. Basically, they treated me like crap and the pay was crap so I quit.

Now to get my last paycheck they want me to drive 30 miles across town, during the day, during the week, to one of their other locations that I’ve never even been to, much less worked at. They make transfers between the stores about 2-3 times a week, but they won’t transfer it, and they’ll only let me pick it up during those brief hours that the general manager is there, which I can’t do. I know they’re just being stubborn because I quit.

Now, I thought I heard somewhere once that an employer has to mail your last paycheck to you if you request it, but I may be getting paychecks mixed up with W2’s.

Do I have any options?

Not on topic, but here’s as good a place as any to complain:

Once upon a time I quit a job and wanted the last check mailed to me. They did so. A month after the “void after 90 days” date. Granted, it was only for one day of work, but still pretty stupid of them (and me for not picking it up earlier).

I would think that they would have to mail it. What if you had moved far far away? It’s not as if there’s any issue of security, there is an address on the check that’s your address on file with the company, right?

Just to take the employer’s side.

We once had an employee walk off the job after a week. She not only didn’t tell us she was quitting, she wouldn’t return any of our phone calls. Finally we sent her a certified letter telling her that we had her paycheck, but would hold it until she actually came in and verified that she didn’t want to work for us anymore.

When I left my ambulance company and moved to a different state, they were happy to mail me may last few checks (left while on vacation). I do believe that they are required to mail the check if necessary, but this is just from my experience.

Why is that sufficient reason to hold her check? Was there really any confusion on the matter?

Perhaps if you offer to send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to your former company, it may be willing to post the cheque to you (even though you shouldn’t really have to).

Because our lawyers would not allow us to take her off the payroll without some sort of documentation that she had either quit voluntarily or we had terminated her.

And we weren’t about to fire an employee who didn’t want to work for us and have it go against us when our unemployment insurance premiums were up for review.

I appreciate all the anecdotal advice (I really do), but does anyone know the answer?

Assuming you are in US, what state do you live in? This sort of thing would be governed by state regs.

Sorry, for some reason thread wasn’t showing new posts, so I didn’t check it. I’m in Arizona.

I would asume that they will eventually mail it to you. When i quit work to head to college, they maikled me my last check about two months after

I would asume that they will eventually mail it to you. When I quit work to go to college, they mailed me my last check about two months after I quit.

Then your lawyers didn’t know what they were talking about. Three days no-show no-call is a valid termination, with no unemployment comp due.

And to the OP, the two or three times I just walked, my check was always mailed to the last address they had. For what it’s worth. Check with your state’s department of employment - you should be able to find an FAQ on their web site.

They’ve made it pretty clear that they will not mail it willfully. What I’m trying to figure out is if they have to or not.

Well, what the fuck state do you live in?!?! Almost all employment regulations/laws are determined by the state, and without that info nobody can give you an answer.

Cisco has already said that the state is Arizona.

You are correct. My apologies, Cisco.

This is probably not helpful:

Perhaps you could call this number:

Thank you . . . Do you have a link to where you got that? I can guess the area code with 99.9% confidence but I’d like to make sure, and it’d be nice to know exactly who I’m calling. Thanks :).

Here’s the website: http://www.ica.state.az.us/Labor/labortop.htm

(Includes phone number above)

For a slight phenomenal fee I will call them on your behalf.