When must you pay your employee if he/she quits with no warning?

• A. within 72 hours
• B. Immediately
• C. At the end of the pay period
• D. Within 7 days

Answer: (A)

When an employee quits without giving proper notice, California law requires you to pay all wages earned and unpaid within 72 hours after the last day worked. This rule protects someone who leaves on short notice from going without earned pay. It’s different from when an employer terminates an employee, in which case wages are due immediately on the termination date. If the employee resigns with adequate notice, final pay is typically aligned with the regular payday or the last day of work, depending on policy, but the no-warning quit triggers the 72-hour window. Delaying beyond 72 hours can lead to waiting-time penalties under the Labor Code. So the correct timing is within 72 hours.