- Frequency of Wage Payments
- Manner of Wage Payments
- Direct Deposit
- Payroll Card
- Payment upon Separation from Employment
- Wages in Dispute
- Deductions from Wages
- Uniforms, Tools, and Other Equipment Necessary for Employment
- Pre-hire Medical, Physical, or Drug Tests
- Notice of Wage Reduction
- Statement of Wages (Pay Stub)
- Record Keeping Requirements
- Notice Requirements
Frequency of Wage Payments
An employer must pay employees at regular intervals not to exceed sixteen (16) days. An employer must pay employees within eight (8) days of the end of a pay period. An employer must notify employees at least thirty (30) days before increasing the interval between paydays. Employers must pay employees no later than the business day following a regular payment day that falls on a day when the business would regularly be closed. Employers must pay employees who are absent from work as the same time as if they were not absent. ME Statute 26:621-A
Manner of Wage Payments
An employer may pay employees by:
- cash,
- check convertible into cash on demand, and
- direct deposit, an automated teller machine card, or other means of electronic transfer as long as the employee either can make an initial withdrawal of the entire amount without additional cost to the employee or the employee can choose another means of payment that involves no additional cost to the employee.
Direct Deposit
An employer may pay employee by direct deposit so long as the employee either can make an initial withdrawal of the entire amount without additional cost to the employee or the employee can choose another means of payment that involves no additional cost to the employee. ME Statute 26:663 This tends to indicate that an employer may require employees to participate in a direct deposit program so long as the employees do not incur additional costs by participating.
Payroll Card
An employer may pay employee by payroll card so long as the employee either can make an initial withdrawal of the entire amount without additional cost to the employee or the employee can choose another means of payment that involves no additional cost to the employee. ME Statute 26:663 This tends to indicate that an employer may require employees to participate in a payroll card program so long as the employees do not incur additional costs by participating.
Payment upon Separation from Employment
Employees who are fired, discharged, terminated, or laid off
When an employer discharges or lays off an employee, the employer must pay the employee all wages due by the next regular payday on which the employee would have been paid had employment continued or within two (2) weeks of the employee’s demand for payment, whichever comes first. ME Statute 26:626
Employees who quit or resign
When an employee quits, the employer must pay the employee all wages due by the next regular payday on which the employee would have been paid had employment continued or within two (2) weeks of the employee’s demand for payment, whichever comes first. ME Statute 26:626
Employees who are suspended or resigns due to a labor dispute (strike)
When an employee resigns due to a labor dispute, the employer must pay the employee all wages due by the next regular payday on which the employee would have been paid had employment continued or within two (2) weeks of the employee’s demand for payment, whichever comes first. ME Statute 26:626
Wages in Dispute
Maine does not have any laws requiring an employer to pay an employee wages conceded to be due when involved in a wage dispute with the employee.
Deductions from Wages
An employer may not withhold or deduct wages from an employees wages for:
- cash shortages,
- inventory shortages,
- dishonored checks,
- dishonored credit cards,
- damages to the employer’s property in any form or
- any merchandise purchased by a customer.
An employer cannot deduct or withhold any portion of an employee’s wages except for:
- the payment of a loan, debt or advance made to the person,
- for the payment of any merchandise voluntarily purchased by the employee from the employer,
- for sick or accident benefits, or life or group insurance premiums, excluding compensation insurance, that an employee has agreed to pay, or
- rent, light or water expense of a company-owned house or building.
Uniforms, Tools, and Other Equipment Necessary for Employment
An employer cannot require an employee to pay for uniforms, clothing, tools, equipment, or other items necessary for employment with the employer. An employer cannot require an employee to pay for the cleaning and maintenance costs of a uniform, but can enter into a signed agreement with the employee to deduct the cost of cleaning and maintenance from their wages. ME Statute 26:629
Pre-hire Medical, Physical, or Drug Tests
Maine does not have any laws prohibiting an employer from requiring an applicant or employee to pay the cost of a medical examination or the cost of furnishing any records required by the employer as a condition of employment.
Notice of Wage Reduction
An employer must give an employee at least one (1) working day’s notice of its intent to reduce the employee’s wages. ME Statute 26:621-A
Statement of Wages (Pay Stub)
Maine requires employers to provide employees with statements of wages (paystub) each time they are paid wages. The statement of wages must contain:
- the date of the pay period
- the hours
- total earnings
- itemized deductions
Employers who pay employees by direct deposit or another electronic method must also include on the statement of wages when the transfer is made and must provide employees with accurate records of the transfers. Employers may not charge employees for electronically provided statements of wages (paystubs).
Record Keeping Requirements
An employer must keep a true record showing the date and amount paid to each employee. An employer must keep a daily record of the time worked by each employee unless the employee is paid a salary that is fixed without regard for the number of hours worked. The law does not provide the time period for which the records must be kept. ME Statute 26:622
Notice Requirements
An employer must notify employees at least thirty (30) days before increasing the interval between paydays. ME Statute 26:621-A
Upon request by an employee, an employer must give the employee in writing the reason for his or her termination from employment. An employer must provide the written reason to the employee within fifteen (15) days of the request. ME Statute 26:630
