Federal banking law requires that anyone who writes a check, including employers, must have enough funds in the bank to cover the check. Additionally, many states have laws requiring that an employer is able to cover paychecks for a certain length of time after they are issued. Once you learn that a paycheck has bounced, it is important to keep a record of your hours worked during the relevant pay period, the pay stub you received, and all documentation from your checking account that confirms that the payroll check was returned for insufficient funds and lists any additional expenses you incurred as a result. You may first want to ask your employer for an explanation, to determine whether the returned check was due to an accounting error or bank mistake, rather than because the employer does not have the funds to cover employee payroll expenses. You can either communicate directly with your employer or contact your Human Resources department. In this situation, the employer and/or bank may voluntarily agree to cover any additional charges you incurred as a result of this mistake. Many states have laws that require the employers to have sufficient funds to cover all payroll checks. These laws may impose penalties on employers who do not comply with the law, and may even provide for criminal prosecution. In states that have their own bounced paycheck law (or if you are not covered by the federal law), you should contact the agency in your state which handles wage and hour/labor standards violations, listed on our site's state government agencies page. Federal laws that require you to be paid at least minimum wage for hours worked are enforced by the Wage-Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor. If your state does not have a specific law covering bounced paychecks, then you should consult with the Department of Labor and/or a local attorney to determine how to proceed.