District of Columbia § 32-1303 Payment of wages upon discharge or resignation of employee and upon suspension of work; employer’s liability for failure to make such payment.

District of Columbia Statutes

§ 32-1303 — Payment of wages upon discharge or resignation of employee and upon suspension of work; employer’s liability for failure to make such payment.

District of Columbia § 32-1303

Title 32Labor.

Ch. 13Wages and Workplace Fraud.

Subch. IPayment and Collection of Wages.

This text of District of Columbia § 32-1303 (Payment of wages upon discharge or resignation of employee and upon suspension of work; employer’s liability for failure to make such payment.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District of Columbia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

D.C. Code § 32-1303 (2026).

Text

Unless otherwise specified in a collective agreement between an employer and a bona fide union representing his employees:

(1)Whenever an employer discharges an employee, the employer shall pay the employee’s wages earned not later than the working day following such discharge; provided, however, that in the instance of an employee who is responsible for monies belonging to the employer, the employer shall be allowed a period of 4 days from the date of discharge or resignation for the determination of the accuracy of the employee’s accounts, at the end of which time all wages earned by the employee shall be paid.

(2)Whenever an employee (not having a written contract of employment for a period in excess of 30 days) quits or resigns, the employer shall pay the employee’s wages due upon

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Unless otherwise specified in a collective agreement between an employer and a bona fide union representing his employees:

(1) Whenever an employer discharges an employee, the employer shall pay the employee’s wages earned not later than the working day following such discharge; provided, however, that in the instance of an employee who is responsible for monies belonging to the employer, the employer shall be allowed a period of 4 days from the date of discharge or resignation for the determination of the accuracy of the employee’s accounts, at the end of which time all wages earned by the employee shall be paid.

(2) Whenever an employee (not having a written contract of employment for a period in excess of 30 days) quits or resigns, the employer shall pay the employee’s wages due upon the next regular payday or within 7 days from the date of quitting or resigning, whichever is earlier.

(3) When work of an employee is suspended as a result of a labor dispute, the employer shall pay to such employee not later than the next regular payday, designated under § 32-1302 , wages earned at the time of suspension.

(4) If an employer fails to pay an employee wages earned as required under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this section, such employer shall pay, or be additionally liable to, the employee, as liquidated damages, 10 per centum of the unpaid wages for each working day during which such failure shall continue after the day upon which payment is hereunder required, or an amount equal to treble the unpaid wages, whichever is smaller.

(5) A subcontractor, including any intermediate subcontractor, and the general contractor shall be jointly and severally liable to the subcontractor's employees for the subcontractor's violations of this chapter , the Living Wage Act , and the Sick and Safe Leave Act . Except as otherwise provided in a contract between the subcontractor and the general contractor, the subcontractor shall indemnify the general contractor for any wages, damages, interest, penalties, or attorneys' fees owed as a result of the subcontractor's violations of this chapter , the Living Wage Act , and the Sick and Safe Leave Act , unless those violations were due to the lack of prompt payment in accordance with the terms of the contract between the general contractor and the subcontractor.

(6) When a temporary staffing firm employs an employee who performs work on behalf of or to the benefit of another employer pursuant to a temporary staffing arrangement or contract for services, both the temporary staffing firm and the employer shall be jointly and severally liable for violations of this chapter, the Living Wage Act, and the Sick and Safe Leave Act to the employee and to the District. The District, the employee, or the employee’s representative shall notify the temporary staffing firm and employer of the alleged violations at least 30 days before filing a claim for these violations. Except as otherwise provided in a contract between the temporary staffing firm and its client, the temporary staffing firm shall indemnify its client for any wages, damages, interest, penalties, or attorneys' fees owed as a result of the temporary staffing firm's violations of this chapter, the Living Wage Act, and the Sick and Safe Leave Act.

Legislative History

Aug. 3, 1956, 70 Stat. 976, ch. 924, § 3; Dec. 24, 2013, D.C. Law 20-61, § 2062(b), 60 DCR 12472; Feb. 26, 2015, D.C. Law 20-157, § 2(b), 61 DCR 10157