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 Oregon, employers are required to establish regular paydays and pay employees on those days. Oregon law mandates that employees must be paid at least once every 35 days. Additionally, final paychecks are governed by specific rules depending on the circumstances of the employee's departure. If an employee is terminated or laid off, the final paycheck must be provided by the end of the next business day. However, if an employee quits with less than 48 hours' notice, excluding weekends and holidays, the employer has until the end of the next regular pay period to provide the final paycheck. If the employee provides at least 48 hours' notice, the final paycheck is due on the final day of employment. These regulations are outlined in the Oregon Revised Statutes, specifically in the labor code sections dealing with wage and hour laws.