Payment of Wages: Kansas

Federal law and guidance on this subject should be reviewed together with this section.

Authors: Alan L. Rupe, Aaron Sauerwein, Kutak Rock LLP

Summary

• The term wages is specifically defined in the Kansas wage payment law. See Definition of Wages.
• Kansas employers may pay employees in cash, by check, by direct deposit or with electronic paycards if certain requirements are met. See Wage Payment Methods.
• Employers are required to pay all employees at least once a month, within 15 days after the end of each pay period. Special rules apply to migrant workers and subcontractors. Penalties are imposed for violations. See Pay Frequency.
• Employers are prohibited from making deductions from an employee's wages unless they are specifically permitted under Kansas law. See Permitted and Prohibited Wage Deductions.
• If an employer and an employee dispute the amount of wages due, the employer must pay the amount of wages, or part of the wages, that the employer concedes is due, no later than the regular payday immediately following the date of the employer's concession. See Wage Disputes.
• Employers are required to provide employees with an itemized statement displaying deductions taken from the employee's wages. Employees may request that the employer issue certain additional notices. See Pay Statement Requirements.
• Terminated employees must be given their final paycheck no later than the next regular payday. The rules are the same regardless of whether the employee quit or was fired. Penalties are imposed for violations. See Final Pay.
• After an employee's death, the employer is permitted to pay wages owed to the deceased employee, unless the employer has actual notice of probate proceedings. Kansas has a specific set of priorities for determining to whom the wages should be paid. See Deceased Employee Wages.
• Wages are considered abandoned property if they are unclaimed by an employee for one year. Employers are generally required to file a report notifying the state treasurer of the unclaimed property. See Unclaimed Wages.