My Employee Never Picked up Their Check…Now What?

Ok, this one is tough to understand, but it definitely happens, more often than you think.  We all love getting paid and so its tough to understand how a person just doesn’t pick up his/her check!  This question comes up a lot, so lets discuss your options and obligations.

Let’s start with the simple scenario:  The employee can’t or doesn’t want to come in.  We can mail/overnight the check or send direct deposit ONLY with a signed release from the employee to do so.  In this case it’s wise to send the check certified mail or only with a signature release. It’s best to have a scanned request form with their signature and the address they want the check mailed to to be on the safe side. Test or email will suffice but not as bullet proof.

A bit more difficult a scenario:  The terminated employee, or even an employee still working has completely disappeared, not returning calls and just can’t be contacted.  This is a bit more difficult because that signed release is not going to be an option.

Here are the steps you must follow as an employer:

• Try to contact the employee, by phone, mail, even email if you have it.  Document all the attempts to locate the employee.
• If the above attempts do not work, mail the employee a written notice notifying them their check is about be turned over to the state. The notice must include a form that the employee has to fill out, sign and mail back if they wish to receive their check. If the employee returns the signed completed form, the check is not turned over to the state; however, if the form isn’t returned, the check is turned over to the state controller.
• Any unclaimed check over $50 must be sent to the California State Controller after 1 year.

California State Controller’s Office
Unclaimed Property Division 10600
White Rock Road, Ste 141,
Rancho Cordova, CA  95670

Feel free to contact is at info@infiniumhr.com for further assistance or for help with any unclaimed checks you might have hanging around.