Alaska Wage Payment Laws

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Frequency of Wage Payments

In Alaska, an employer and employee may agree in an annual initial employment contract to monthly pay periods. Otherwise, an employer must pay its employees either semi-monthly or monthly, as elected by the employee. AK Statute 23.5.140(a)

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Manner of Wage Payments

In Alaska, an employer may pay wages by cash or check redeemable at face value. AK Statute 23.10.040

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Direct Deposit

An employer may pay wages by direct deposit, so long as the employee has consented to the deposit and the wages are deposited into a financial institution of the employee’s choosing. AK Statute 23.10.043. Alaska employers cannot require an employee to receive payment of wages by direct deposit.

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Payroll Card

Alaska labor laws do not address whether an employer may pay an employee’s wages by payroll card.

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Payment upon Separation from Employment

Employees who are fired, discharged, terminated, or permanently laid off

When an employee is discharged from employment by the employer, no matter the reason, the employer must pay the employee all wages due within three (3) working days. AK Statute 23.5.140

Employees who quit or resign

When an employee voluntarily quits or resigns employment, the employer must pay the employee their final wages owed by the next regular pay day that is at least three (3) business days after the employee gives notice to the employer they will resign. AK Statute 23.5.140

Employees who are suspended or resigns due to a labor dispute (strike)

When an employee leaves employment as a result of a labor dispute, the employer must pay the employee by the next regular pay day. AK Statute 23.5.170

Employees who are temporarily laid off

When an employee is temporarily laid off, the employer must pay the employee by the next regular pay day. AK Statute 23.5.170

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Wages in Dispute

If there is a dispute between an employer and an employee about wages the employer owes the employee, the employer must give the employee written notice stating the wages, or part of the wages, the employer concedes it owes the employee. The employer must also pay the employee the amount of wages it concedes it owes without condition and within the time required depending on whether the employee was discharged or voluntarily quit. The employer may retain the disputed amount until the matter is resolved. AK Statute 23.5.180

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Deductions from Wages

An employer may not make any deductions from an employee’s wages if it reduces they employee’s wage rate below any statutory minimum wage or overtime rates.

Additionally, an employer may not make any deductions from an employee’s wages for:

• customer checks returned due to insufficient funds or any other reason;
• non-payment for goods or services as a result of theft or credit default;
• cash or cash register shortages unless the employee admits, willingly and in writing, to having personally taken the specific amount of cash that is alleged to be missing;
• lost, missing, or stolen property, unless the employee admits willingly and in writing, to having personally taken the specific property alleged to be lost, missing, or stolen; or
• damage or breakage costs unless clearly due to willful conduct of the employee and the employee has acknowledged responsibility in writing.

An employer may, with the employee’s written consent, make the following deductions from wages:

• an amount to pay a creditor, donee, or other third party. The employer, or any person acting in the employer’s behalf or interest, may not derive any profit or benefit from the transaction.
• an amount to reimburse an employer for transportation from the place of hire to the place of employment if the deduction does not reduce the employee’s wages below the statutory minimum or overtime compensation rate below one and one-half times the contractual rate of pay.
• an amount for the reasonable cost of furnishing board and lodging, if the board and lodging facilities of the employer are “customarily” furnished by the employer and voluntarily used by the employees and the cost to the employee for the use of the employer’s board and lodging facilities is reasonable and without profit to the employer. (Unless the employer and the employee have executed a written agreement before the deduction, the employer is prohibited from seeking to retroactively deduct the cost of board and lodging as an offset against wages due upon termination or wage deficiencies subject to collection by the department.)
• an amount as a security deposit to ensure the return, clean and in a state of good repair, of uniforms or equipment issued by the employer, if the total deposit does not exceed the cost of the item, and the deduction does not reduce the employee’s wage below the statutory minimum or reduce the employee’s overtime compensation below one and one-half times the contractual rate of pay.

AK Admin. Code 8.15.160

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Uniforms, Tools, and Other Equipment Necessary for Employment

An employer may not require an employee to purchase a uniform or equipment if:

• the uniform or equipment is required by the federal, state, or local safety or health codes; or
• the nature of the employer’s business requires their use, and if the uniform or equipment:
  • is distinctive and advertises or is associated with the products or services of the employer, except clothing that constitutes a uniform or equipment that advertises the products or services of the employer which is customarily sold to the public by the employer; or
  • cannot be worn or used during normal social activities of the employee.

AK Admin. Code 8.15.165

An employer may require an employee to pay a security deposit to ensure the return, clean and in a state of good repair, of uniforms or equipment issued by the employer, if the total deposit does not exceed the cost of the item; and the deduction does not reduce the employee’s wage below the statutory minimum or reduce the employee’s overtime compensation below one and one-half times the contractual rate of pay. AK Admin. Code 8.15.160

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Pre-hire Medical, Physical, or Drug tests

Alaska does not have any laws addressing whether an employer must pay for pre-hire medical, physical, or drug tests.

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Notice of Wage Reduction

An employer must inform its employees of any changes to wages or the day or place of payment no later than the payday prior to the time of change. An employer may comply with this notice requirement by posting the established terms in a conspicuous location at or near the place of work where it can be seen by employees as they come and go from work. AK Statute 23.5.160

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Statement of Wages (Pay Stub)

An employer must provide employees on each pay day a statement of earnings and deductions which includes:

• rate of pay;
• gross wages;
• net wages;
• beginning and ending dates of the pay period;
• federal income tax deductions;
• Federal Insurance Contribution Act deductions;
• Alaska Employment Security Act contributions;
• board and lodging costs;
• advances;
• straight time and overtime hours actually worked in the pay period; and
• other authorized deductions.

AK Statute 23.5.160

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Record Keeping Requirements

Alaska law requires an employer to keep for a period of at least three (3) years at the place where an employee is employed a record of:

• the name, address, and occupation of each employee,
• the rate of pay and the amount paid each pay period to each employee,
• the hours worked each day and each workweek by each employee, and
• any other payroll information the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development may require.

AK Statute 23.10.100

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Notice Requirements

An employer must notify employees in writing at the time of hire of the day and place of payment and their wage rate. An employer must also inform employees of changes to wages or the day or place of payment no later than the payday prior to the time of change. An employer may comply with this notice requirement by posting the established terms in a conspicuous location at or near the place of work where it can be seen by employees as they come and go from work. AK Statute 23.5.160

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