Utah Payroll Rules

Frequency of Payments

You must pay your employees at least semimonthly on regularly scheduled paydays, unless the employee has an annual salary.

You must pay your employees within 10 days after the end of the pay period.

You must pay all annual-salaried employees at least once per month. If you pay them once per month, you must pay them by the 7^th of the month following the month in which the wages were earned.

If payday falls on a weekend or holiday, you must pay your employees on the preceding day.

Manner of Payments

You may pay your employees by cash, check, or direct deposit.

Payment Upon Separation

If you discharge an employee for any reason, you must pay them within 24 hours of the discharge.

If an employee quits or resigns voluntarily, you must pay them by the next regularly scheduled payday.

If an employee is suspended or resigns due to a labor dispute (like a strike), you must pay them by the next regularly scheduled payday.

Deductions

You may only make a deduction from an employee’s paycheck if

• permitted or required by court order, state law, or federal law;
• the employee gives written consent;
• you present evidence that, in the opinion of a hearing officer or administrative law judge, would warrant an offset; or
• the deduction is for contributions to a contract or plan established by the employer under Section 401(k), 403(b), 408, 408A, or 457 retirement plan.

You may make the following deductions from an employee’s paycheck:

• dues, contributions, or other fees to a labor, employee, professional, or other employer-related organization;
• contributions to a health, welfare, insurance, retirement, or other benefit program;
• payments, repayments, contributions, and deposits to a credit union, banking, saving, loan, trust, or other financial institution;
• purchase of goods or services from the employer, if the employee has actual possession of the goods or services and has given written acknowledgement that they made the purchase;
• payment for damages due to the employee’s negligence;
• repayment of advances or loans;
• payment for loss or damage to the employer’s property due to the employee’s criminal conduct;
• payment for cash shortages;
• payment for the purchase of goods, tools, equipment, or other items required for employment; and
• payment for goods, tools, equipment, and other items assigned to the employee.

Uniforms & Other Required Equipment or Tools

Utah 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.

Notice of Wage Reduction

You must notify an employee before changing their rate of pay. You may notify employees by posting the information in a conspicuous place.

Paystubs

On each payday, you must give each employee a statement listing the amount of each deduction.

Recordkeeping

For each employee, you must keep the following records for at least three (3) years:

• name, address, and birthdate;
• hours worked; and
• wages paid.

For each employee paid on an hourly or daily basis, you must keep the following records for at least one (1) year:

• an accurate record of time worked, and
• wages paid each pay period.

Notices

When you hire an employee, you must notify them of the day and place of payment and of their rate of pay.

You must notify an employee of any change to their rate of pay or to the day and place of payment. You may notify employees by posting the information in a conspicuous place.