What to Include
- Employee’s personal and contact information.
- Date the letter is written.
- Employer’s name and address.
- Amount owed and the affected pay period.
- Payment deadline.
- Actions the employee is prepared to take if the wages remain unpaid.
Demanding Final Paychecks
Employees seeking their final paycheck should take note of their state’s laws on payment deadlines after termination. For example, in Florida and Georgia, there’s no law obligating employers to pay immediately, whereas in California, employees are typically entitled to their final check immediately upon termination.
More information on the final paycheck deadlines can be found on each state’s labor office website.
Before Sending: Important Information
Before sending a demand letter for unpaid wages, the employee should make a copy for their records and store it securely. It is also important to gather proof of when and how the letter was sent in case the employer claims they never received it.
It is recommended that the letter be sent using certified mail or another service with tracking and delivery confirmation.
Sample
Download: PDF, Word (.docx), OpenDocument
[EMPLOYEE NAME]
[EMPLOYEE ADDRESS]
[EMPLOYEE CONTACT INFO]
Date: [DATE]
[EMPLOYER NAME (AND TITLE, IF APPLICABLE)]
[EMPLOYER BUSINESS NAME (IF APPLICABLE)]
[EMPLOYER ADDRESS]
THIS IS MY FINAL ATTEMPT TO COLLECT UNPAID WAGES
Dear [EMPLOYER NAME],
You currently owe me $[DOLLAR AMOUNT] in unpaid wages for the period of [DATE] to [DATE].
I demand that you pay the full amount owed by [DATE].
If there is no response to this letter, all legal rights may be explored without further notice, including, but not limited to, legal proceedings necessary to recover the debt or transferring the debt to a collection agency in accordance with state and federal laws.
This demand letter for payment serves as official notice to you and may be tendered in court as evidence of your failure to cooperate. If legal action is to occur, you may be held liable for court fees, attorney’s fees, and damages.
I hope to resolve this matter as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
________________________
[EMPLOYEE NAME]