All wages earned and unpaid, by the deadline Labor Code 201-203 sets for this kind of separation. LATE PAYMENT RUNS A WAITING-TIME PENALTY of up to 30 days' wages, per day until paid. Gating: a separation cannot be closed with wages outstanding.

Accrued vacation is wages in California and is paid at the final rate with the final cheque (Labor Code 227.3). Unused sick leave is not paid out unless your policy says so.

Necessary business expenses the employee has not yet been reimbursed for (Labor Code 2802), settled with the final pay.

The plan or its administrator must be told of the qualifying event within 30 days so the election notice can go out on time.

Laptop, phone, keys, fob, vehicle, tools and PPE. Note: withholding pay for unreturned property is tightly limited in California and generally needs written authorisation — recover the property, do not deduct for it.

Accounts, email, single sign-on, building badge, gate codes and any general-contractor site credentials. Done on the effective date, not afterwards.

California requires the personnel record, including this separation packet, to be kept for at least three years after separation. Nothing in this module is deleted; the retention date is stamped when the separation closes.

COUNSEL-DRAFTED, never generated here. If the employee is 40 or over the release must give 21 days to consider it (45 for a group programme) plus 7 days to revoke, and a group programme needs the OWBPA disclosure of titles and ages selected and not selected.