Payment of Wages: Wyoming

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

Author: Vonde Smith, Law Offices of Vonde M. Smith, PC

Summary

• The term wages is specifically defined in the Wyoming wage payment law. See Definition of Wages.
• Wyoming employers may pay employees by check, draft, voucher or direct deposit. See Wage Payment Methods.
• Employees must be paid at least monthly, although employees in certain industries must be paid biweekly. Penalties are imposed for noncompliance. See Pay Frequency.
• Employers are permitted to make certain deductions from employees' wages, so long as certain prerequisites are met. Penalties are imposed for noncompliance. See Permitted and Prohibited Wage Deductions.
• With each payment of wages employers must provide employees with an accurate itemization of all deductions in the form of a detachable part of a check or a separate written statement. Penalties are imposed for noncompliance. See Pay Statement Requirements.
• All terminated employees, whether they quit or were fired, must be paid by the next regular payday or by the time specified in a collective bargaining agreement. Penalties are imposed for noncompliance. See Final Pay.
• Wyoming's general estates law may apply to an employer who owes wages or other property to a deceased employee. The Department of Workforce Services generally states that any wages owed must be paid to a deceased employee's heirs or next of kin on regular pay dates. See Deceased Employee Wages.
• Wages are considered abandoned property if they are unclaimed by an employee for one year. Employers must file a report on unclaimed property annually and remit the wages to the state. See Unclaimed Wages.
• Employers must keep specific records relating to each employee for at least two years in or about the premises in which it has employees. See Recordkeeping Requirements.