Most states have laws that require employers to pay employees their wages with some minimum frequency—usually either twice a month (semi-monthly) or every other week (bi-weekly)—and some states require weekly or monthly payment of wages.
These laws are known as payday laws and also dictate when an employee who has been fired/terminated or quit must be paid their final paycheck—in some states, immediately; in some states within a certain number of days; and in some states on the next regularly-scheduled payday.
Payday laws vary from state to state and are usually included in a state’s statutes—often in the labor code or other statutes governing employer-employee relations.
In Illinois, the state's payday laws are governed by the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. This Act requires employers to pay their employees at least semi-monthly, though there are exceptions for executive, administrative, and professional employees who may be paid monthly. Additionally, manual laborers must be paid weekly. When an employee is terminated or laid off, the employer is required to provide the final paycheck no later than the next regularly scheduled payday. If an employee quits, the final paycheck is also due by the next regularly scheduled payday. These regulations ensure that employees receive their earned wages in a timely manner and provide clear guidelines for employers to follow upon the termination or resignation of an employee.