Most states have laws that require employers to pay employees their wages with some minimum frequency—usually either twice a month (semi-monthly) or every other week (bi-weekly)—and some states require weekly or monthly payment of wages.

These laws are known as payday laws and also dictate when an employee who has been fired/terminated or quit must be paid their final paycheck—in some states, immediately; in some states within a certain number of days; and in some states on the next regularly-scheduled payday.

Payday laws vary from state to state and are usually included in a state’s statutes—often in the labor code or other statutes governing employer-employee relations.

In Michigan, the state's Wage and Hour Program administers the Payment of Wages and Fringe Benefits Act (Act 390 of 1978), which regulates the payment of hourly wages, salaries, commissions, certain fringe benefits (such as vacation pay, sick pay, etc.), and the frequency at which these payments must be made. Employers are generally required to pay employees at least twice per month on scheduled paydays that the employer establishes. Furthermore, when an employee is terminated or quits, Michigan law stipulates that the final paycheck must be provided no later than the next regularly scheduled payday following the date of termination. If an employee requests payment of unused fringe benefits upon termination, the employer must comply within the time frames set forth in the written contract or written policy. It's important to note that specific rules can vary depending on the nature of the work and the type of compensation, and employers must adhere to any written contracts or agreements that may stipulate different terms.