Utah Contractor Practice Exam

If an employee quits without notice, when must the contractor pay their wages?

1. In full, within three days of quitting

2. Immediately

3. Within seven days

4. Within 24 hours

The correct answer is: In full, within three days of quitting

When an employee quits without providing any notice, the contractor is required to pay their wages in full within three days of their departure. This provision is designed to protect employees by ensuring they have access to their earned wages promptly after they leave the company. The three-day timeframe is aligned with labor regulations that seek to balance the needs of both employees and employers in situations of sudden employment termination. This policy helps ensure that workers are not left in a financially precarious situation after quitting, while still allowing the contractor a reasonable window to calculate and process the final payment. In contrast, immediate payment typically applies to situations such as immediate termination by the employer and does not usually encompass voluntary resignations. The seven-day option does not reflect the more immediate financial relief intended for employees who leave abruptly, while a 24-hour limit could be overly stringent and impractical for the payroll processing involved. Thus, three days strikes a balance between expediency and practicality for final wage payment.