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 Maryland, the regulation of wage payment frequency and final paychecks is governed by the Maryland Wage Payment and Collection Law. Employers are generally required to pay employees at least once every two weeks or twice a month, although there are exceptions for certain types of employees or industries. When an employee is terminated or resigns, Maryland law stipulates that the final paycheck must be provided by the next regular payday. If the regular payday is less than three days after the termination, the employer has until the next payday to provide the final wages. Employers who fail to comply with these regulations may be subject to penalties, including the possibility of having to pay up to three times the wage due and attorneys' fees.