Should You Pay an Employee Who Resigns With Two Weeks’ Notice?

An employee who resigns with two weeks’ notice may think they are doing you a favor. But in fact, it can be a payroll headache, especially if you listen to some of the misinformation you may have heard about two-week notices. For example, you may have heard a rumor that you don’t need to pay employees for their last two weeks of work. That’s not true; as an employer, you must pay your employees for all the time they have worked. Therefore, if an employee resigns with two weeks’ notice, you must pay them for any work that they complete within that two-week period. Here are some other questions you might have about this tricky situation:

Can you let the employee go early and not pay them for the two weeks?

In the vast majority of states, employment is at will, meaning employees can be terminated at any time for any reason. Therefore, unless an employment contract says otherwise, employers can typically terminate an employee before their two-week notice ends. But even if you let the employee go early, you must still pay them for any work done during those last two weeks.

Additional considerations:

  • If you let the employee go early despite their two-week notice, the termination will become involuntary, which may qualify the employee for unemployment insurance benefits that they might not have gotten otherwise.
  • If the employee gives two weeks’ notice as required by company policy and you terminate them early, the employee may use the company policy to argue during litigation that they are entitled to two weeks’ pay.
  • Remaining employees may view you poorly if you let employees go before their two-week notice ends. They might not see any upside to giving you two weeks’ notice if they decide to resign one day.

Should you pay unused paid time off to employees who give two weeks’ notice?

Yes, if a statute, your company policy or an employment contract says you should.

In some states, employers must pay out unused vacation to departing employees, regardless of whether the employee was discharged or resigned with notice.

Other states require employers to defer to company policy. Commonly, employers require departing employees to give two weeks’ notice in order to receive unused vacation pay. If the employee fails to provide two weeks’ notice, they will not receive the vacation payout unless a statute or an employment contract requires it.

Generally, state law does not require employers to pay out unused sick time to departing employees. But if you provide one PTO bank instead of separately allocating vacation, sick and/or personal time, then the state may require you to pay out unused PTO upon termination.

When are final wages due to employees who give two weeks’ notice?

Final wages must be paid by the state-mandated deadline. In many cases, if the employee resigned with notice, final wages are due by the next scheduled payday. State laws vary, so be sure to check your specific state regulations.

If the state is silent on the matter, you must still pay the departing employee any wages due within a reasonable time frame — usually by the next scheduled payday.

Are the rules different for exempt employees?

Employees who are exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act must receive their full pay for any week in which they do any work — unless there’s a legally permissible deduction; for example, you can legally dock an exempt employee’s pay if they did not work the entire week in their first or last week of employment.

The bottom line? Get up to speed on regulations before anyone leaves so the transition goes smoothly.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Paysmart Online Quote

To get started, please take a moment to answer a few questions to help us best identify your needs. Thank you for your time!

Emily Gooding

Payroll Specialist

Emily is graduating in May with a BA in Business Administration from Lander University. She has gained valuable experience as a payroll intern for BMW. We are so excited to have her on the team and  to see her excel in her role as a Payroll Specialist.

Madison Capps​

Payroll Specialist

Madison received a BS in Psychology from Southern Illinois University in 2019. Since then, she has been working as a supervisor at Starbucks and earning her second degree, a BA in Administration and Accounting, from USC Aiken in the fall. She will be joining us as a Payroll Specialist and a valuable addition to our Paysmart team.

Kristen Wilby

Payroll Specialist

Before moving to South Carolina with her husband, Kristen worked as a Sales & Marketing Specialist for Premium King in Feasterville, PA, where she gained valuable experience in strengthening the brand and generating new business. Kristen also brings to our team several years of professional experience as an Executive Assistant and as an Office Manager, where she was first introduced to payroll. Kristen’s knowledge and her innate ability to establish genuine relationships contribute greatly to the team as we continue to grow and serve our clients.

Meg Whitaker

Payroll Specialist

Meg brings nearly twenty years of professional experience to the team. Most recently, she worked as a Payroll & Benefits Specialist in Centennial, Colorado. She and her husband recently moved back to the Carolinas for his job, and we were fortunate to find her! Before Colorado, Meg worked at CPI Security Systems in Charlotte, NC, for twelve years as a Billing Coordinator and Senior Administrative Assistant. She also gained three years of experience as an HR Assistant for a law firm in Fayetteville, NC. Her expertise significantly adds to our team and benefits our clients as we continue to grow!

Rachel McClaran, EA

Partner

Rachel plays a crucial role in developing Paysmart’s core processes and procedures, as well as overall strategy within the company. Rachel graduated from Bob Jones University and is an active member of the Junior League of Greenville and the South Carolina Association of CPAs. Her desire to serve her community has led her to become involved with several nonprofit organizations and to serve as the past Vice President of Finance for the Junior League of Greenville. Outside of the office,Rachel enjoys spending time on the water and traveling with her husband and their two children.

Hina Rogers

Payroll Specialist

Hina joined the Paysmart team in August 2022. She grew up in Portland, Oregon, before moving to Greenville, SC. She earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in education. After college, she represented her alma mater as an enrollment counselor in the Southeast and Western states. She enjoys traveling, road trips, cooking, and quality time with her family. Hina looks forward to serving your company’s needs! 

Sharon Quantrille

Payroll Specialist

Sharon has spent several years in the accounting industry and has completed courses to hone her skills as a Payroll Specialist. Her background as an educator, professional musician, and Human Resources Generalist has contributed to her communication skills, commitment to professionalism, and organizational skills that make her a tremendous benefit to her Paysmart clients and colleagues. A graduate of Bob Jones University with a B.S. degree in Music Education, a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and a Human Resources Generalist Certificate, Sharon spends her free time gardening, hiking, playing the piano, and spending time with her four adult children.

Haleigh Bates

Payroll Specialist

Haleigh joined our team in May of 2022 as a payroll specialist. Haleigh has over eight years of experience helping personal and small business clients with their financial needs. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Georgia Southern University. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children, Caden, Addie, and Mason.  She likes to go hiking, spend time at the beach, and volunteer at her church in the children’s ministry. 

Courtney Rossello

Payroll Tax Manager

Courtney joined the team at Paysmart Payroll Services in September 2020.  She was raised in Simpsonville, SC, and graduated from Clemson University in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a concentration in public administration.  Courtney began her payroll career in 2011 and currently works in the payroll tax department at Paysmart.  She strives to make every client feel comfortable knowing their payroll taxes and tax returns are handled accurately and efficiently.  Courtney is also a volunteer Treasurer for a local middle school in Greenville County.  In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering with special needs children, road trips, and spending time with her two daughters. 

Emily Hargrave

Senior Payroll Specialist

Emily received her bachelor’s degree in music from West Coast Baptist College. Since her college days, Emily has gained nearly 18 years of experience in office operations and project management. Emily joined Paysmart in 2017 and enjoys using her skills to support clients and the Paysmart team.

 At heart, Emily is a small-town country girl from the Midwest but is happy now to call the Upstate home, where she doesn’t have to endure harsh winters. Emily’s favorite ways to spend her free time are reading a good book, challenging herself with puzzles, and doing her best not to kill the plants in her garden.

Julie Shull

Client Success Specialist

Julie is the Client Success Specialist for Paysmart Payroll.  She joined the team as a Payroll Specialist in March of 2020. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from NC State University and earned an MBA from Gardner-Webb University while playing on the GWU women’s tennis team. After starting her career with Wilson Sporting Goods as a Financial Analyst, she took a few years off to raise twin boys until she began working for Greenville County Schools in 2014.  Julie enjoys spending time with her family and outdoor activities.

Brad Detandt

Payroll Administrator

A graduate of Northland International University with a BA in Counseling, Brad Detandt leads the day-to-day operations of the Paysmart team. He is eager to grow the firm’s client portfolio. He brings a diverse employment background in retail, manufacturing, nonprofit ministries, and business development, with
a specialized focus on team development and process improvement. Brad’s professional – and personal – mission is to “Be Great. Serve!” Brad enjoys spontaneous activities and weekend trips to state parks with his wife Miranda and his three children.

Stephen C. Stokes

Managing Partner

Stephen has more than 14 years’ experience working with individuals and businesses to meet their tax, accounting, and payroll needs. He has been the managing partner of Paysmart Payroll Services since January 2009. He is a licensed certified public accountant in South Carolina and Georgia. Stephen is also a member of the South Carolina Association of CPAs, the Georgia Society of CPAs, the American Institute of CPAs, and the Professional Association of Small Business Accountants. He has a bachelor’s degree from Bob Jones University and a master’s degree from Georgia State University. Stephen was born and raised near Atlanta, Georgia and moved to Greenville, South Carolina, several years ago. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Tiffani, and daughters, Madeline and Julianna. He is actively involved in his church and enjoys reading, sports, and other outdoor activities.