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 New Hampshire, the state's payday laws are outlined in the Revised Statutes Annotated (RSA) under Labor and Employees. Employers are required to pay wages to employees within eight days after the completion of the pay period during which the wages were earned if the period is weekly or biweekly. If the pay period is longer than biweekly, the employer must pay the employee within 15 days after the end of the pay period. Regarding the final paycheck for an employee who is terminated or quits, New Hampshire law stipulates that an employer must pay all wages due to the employee within 72 hours of the termination. If an employee quits, they must be paid by the next regular payday that is at least 72 hours after the employee gives notice. If no notice is given, the employer must pay the employee by the next regular payday or within 72 hours, whichever is later. These regulations ensure that employees receive their earned wages in a timely manner and provide clear guidelines for the final payment of wages upon the end of employment.