A large group of us recently found out that our contract with the company would not be renewed and that we would be out of a job at the end of October. The contractor then followed this message by saying that if anyone left their job before that date without giving notice, they would not receive payment for any of their vacation time. I realize that it is important to give notice whenever leaving but in my situation an opportunity could come up where another company would want me immediately, and I would hate to miss my chance to get another job for fear of losing my vacation time. I was under the impression that once vacation time was accrued and earned that a company cannot take it from you. If an employer offers paid vacations to employees, the law then regulates how the employer must apply them.
Accrued vacation is considered wages.
The labor commissioner has set certain guidelines the employer must abide by, which is to pay you your money whether you have given two weeks' notice, are terminated or just quit on the spot. Vacation accrued up to your last day of work and any vacation earned must be paid out at the employee's current of rate of pay. Yours is a common situation. Unable to find suitable work in my field, I took a part-time job. The hours were good, and I was able to use the rest of the day caring for my family.