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 Louisiana (LA), payday laws are governed by the Louisiana Revised Statutes, specifically under Title 23: Chapter 1, Part VII, Sections 631 and following. These laws require employers to pay employees at regular intervals, which cannot exceed sixteen days or one month, depending on the type of employee. Most employees must be paid at least semi-monthly, while executive, administrative, or professional employees may be paid monthly. When an employee is terminated or quits, Louisiana law stipulates that the final paycheck must be issued on the next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever occurs first. However, this does not apply to employees engaged in manual labor; these employees must be paid within 15 days or until the next regular payday, whichever comes first, for the work done prior to the separation. It's important for employers to adhere to these regulations to avoid penalties and legal issues.