Louisiana Payroll Rules

Frequency of Payments

Louisiana does not have a law concerning the frequency or timeliness of payments for most industries. Companies in most industries may establish whatever pay periods and paydays they wish.

However, if you’re in the oil and gas, mining, manufacturing, or public service industries, you must pay your employees at least twice per month on regularly scheduled paydays. If you do not designate paydays, you must pay your employees on the 1^st and 16^th of each month.

If you’re in the oil and gas, mining, or manufacturing industries, you must pay your employees (excluding clerical and sales staff) within 10 days of the end of the pay period. Companies in the public service industry must pay their employees within 15 days of the end of the pay period.

Manner of Payments

Louisiana does not have any laws dictating in what manner you may pay your employees.

Payment Upon Separation

If an employee leaves your company for any reason, you must pay them by the next regularly scheduled payday or within 15 days, whichever happens sooner.

Deductions

You can only deduct fines from an employee’s paycheck if the employee

• willfully or negligently damages good or projects,
• willfully or negligently damages or breaks the employer’s property, or
• is convicted or pleads guilty to theft of the employer’s funds.

Uniforms & Other Required Equipment or Tools

Louisiana does not have any laws about whether you can require an employee to purchase a uniform or equipment necessary for them to do their job.

Pre-Hire Medical, Physical, & Drug Tests

You cannot require an employee to pay for the cost of any pre-hire exams.

However, if an employee makes at least $1 per hour more than the federal minimum wage, you can require the employee to sign a contract agreeing to repay you for the cost of any pre-employment exams, if the employee quits within 90 working days of their first day of work.

Notice of Wage Reduction

If you make any changes to the wages an employee will be paid, the method in which they will be paid, and/or the frequency in which they will be paid, you must inform them before the changes go into effect.

Paystubs

Louisiana does not have any laws about whether you have to give each employee a paystub on payday.

Recordkeeping

For each employee, you must keep the following records for at least one (1) year:

• name, address, and occupation;
• daily and weekly hours worked; and
• wages paid each pay period.

Notices

When you hire an employee, you must inform them of their wage rate, the method in which they will be paid, and how frequently they will be paid.