Utah Contractor Practice Exam

What is the timeframe in which an employer must pay wages after terminating an employee?

1. 24 hours

2. 48 hours

3. 72 hours

4. One week

The correct answer is: 24 hours

When an employee is terminated, the law mandates that the employer must pay the employee any unpaid wages within a specific timeframe. In the context of the Utah Contractor Practice Exam and the laws that govern employment practices in Utah, the correct answer is that the employer has a 24-hour period to make this payment. This rule is in place to ensure that employees receive their hard-earned wages promptly upon cessation of their employment. Timely payment fosters trust and ensures that employees are not left without their owed compensation, which is crucial, especially during the transition period following a job loss. As such, employers are obligated to adhere strictly to this timeframe to comply with state law. Choosing longer durations, such as 48 hours, 72 hours, or one week, would be inconsistent with the requirement for immediate payment and does not align with the legislative intent of protecting employees' rights. Therefore, the emphasis on a 24-hour payment requirement highlights the importance of employee welfare and the immediacy of wage compensation to discharged workers.