Is my employer required to pay severance in the US?
Generally no. The US follows at-will employment, and there is no federal law requiring severance pay for ordinary terminations. Severance is only owed if promised in an employment contract, an employee handbook, a company policy, or a negotiated agreement. Employers cannot, however, withhold wages you have already earned.
The federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires employers with 100 or more employees to give 60 calendar days advance notice of a plant closing or mass layoff. If they fail to do so, affected employees can recover up to 60 days of back pay and benefits. Several states have their own mini-WARN laws with lower thresholds.
When must I receive my final paycheck?
It depends on your state. California requires immediate payment if you are fired and within 72 hours if you quit. New York and Illinois require payment by the next regular payday. Texas allows 6 days if fired. Missing these deadlines can trigger waiting-time penalties, which in California can equal up to 30 days of wages.
Do I get paid for unused vacation when I leave?
It depends on your state. California, Massachusetts, and Illinois treat accrued vacation as earned wages that must be paid out on separation. New York, Texas, Florida, and many others do not require payout unless the employer's own policy or contract promises it.