giving notice since that isn't necessarily the same from one place to another either. I told HR that I needed my vacation pay today. I was told they would have to clear it with the general manager. I wanna give 2 weeks notice, but I'm supposed to start my new job on the 9th of next month. I should wait until I get my vacation check to put in my 2 weeks right? In California, vacation accrual is the same as earned wages. The employer has to pay it back: Q. What happens to my earned and accrued but unused vacation if I am discharged or quit my job? A. Under California law, unless otherwise stipulated by a collective bargaining agreement , whenever the employment relationship ends, for any reason whatsoever, and the employee has not used all of his or her earned and accrued vacation, the employer must pay the employee at his or her final rate of pay for all of his or her earned and accrued and unused vacation days. Labor Code Section 227.3. Because paid vacation benefits are considered wages, such pay must be included in the employee's final paycheck. Nine states have laws saying employers must compensation their employees for accrued vacation time. The law covers employees who are fired or laid off, or who quit. The states are Illinois, Tennessee, Rhode Island, Oregon, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Maine, and California. Depends on the company. They may pay you, but like stated above they may