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Colorado: Employer Policy Controls Vacation Payout on Termination

APPLIES TO

All Employers with CO Employees

EFFECTIVE

June 27, 2019

QUESTIONS?

Contact HR On-Call

(888) 378-2456

In Nieto v. Clark’s Market, Inc., the Colorado Court of Appeal stated that the employer and employee’s agreement determines how accrued vacation time is handled at termination. Specifically, the state Wage Claim Act, which states in part that the employer must pay all earned vacation upon termination “in accordance with the terms of any agreement between the employer and the employee,” does not create an independent right of employees to receive vacation payout upon termination.

There, the employer’s vacation policy provided for payout of earned vacation time upon termination if the employee provided at least two weeks’ advance notice of leaving employment; however, vacation benefits are forfeited if insufficient notice was provided or the employee is terminated. The court stated that the employer’s policy controlled, and the employee did not meet the requirements. Employers should have vacation policies reviewed accordingly, and should seek legal counsel before refusing to pay out earned vacation upon termination where a vacation policy is silent on those terms.

Action Items

  1. Have vacation policies and termination procedures reviewed for compliance.
  2. Subscribers can call our HR On-Call Hotline at (888) 378-2456 for further assistance.

Disclaimer: This document is designed to provide general information and guidance concerning employment-related issues. It is presented with the understanding that ManagEase is not engaged in rendering any legal opinions. If a legal opinion is needed, please contact the services of your own legal adviser.

© 2019 ManagEase

California: Employers May Prohibit Employees From Earning Vacation in Their First Year

APPLIES TO

All Employers with CA Employees

EFFECTIVE

July 28, 2017

QUESTIONS?

Contact HR On-Call

(888) 378-2456

Although California does not require an employer to provide employees with vacation benefits, employers who elect to do so are obliged to pay attention to a host of regulations.  For example, California forbids employers from causing employees to forfeit earned vacation time (e.g., by way of “use it or lose it” policies), because vacation benefits are considered a form of vested wages.  In a recent case, however, a California Court of Appeal stated that employers may prohibit employees from earning any vacation in their first year of employment, provided that the vacation policy is properly worded.