Mississippi Wage Payment Laws

Frequency of Wage Payments

The only Mississippi law governing this issue covers employers engaged in manufacturing who employ fifty (50) or more employees and public labor or public service corporations (e.g. utilities). These types of employers must make full payment to employees for services performed at least once every two (2) weeks or twice during each calendar month, or on the second and fourth Saturday, respectively, of each month.

The wages must be paid within ten (10) days of the end of the pay period in which the wages were earned, except for public service corporations which are required to pay employees within fifteen (15) days of the end of the pay period in which the wages were earned. This law does not apply to individuals employed in bona fide executive, administrative or professional capacities. MS Statute 71-1-35

Manner of Wage Payments

Mississippi does not have any laws dictating how an employer must pay employees their wages. This means an employer can likely pay employees by direct deposit.

Direct Deposit

Mississippi does not have any laws regarding an employer’s ability to pay employees by direct deposit.

Payroll Card

Mississippi does not have any laws regarding an employer’s ability to pay employees by payroll card.

Payment upon Separation from Employment

Mississippi does not have any laws dictating when an employer must pay wages to employees who have been separated from employment, whether by termination, discharge, voluntary quit, lay off, or labor dispute.

Wages in Dispute

Mississippi 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

Mississippi does not have any laws regarding what deductions may or may not be taken from an employees paycheck or whether an employee must provide written consent prior to any deduction. The lack of a law prohibiting deductions likely means an employer can withhold or deduct wages from an employees pay check for:

cash shortages
breakage, damage, or loss of the employer’s property
required uniforms
required tools
other items necessary for employment

In accordance with federal law, an employer may not make deductions for any of the above-listed items if it would cause the employee to earn less than federal minimum wage for the period in which the deduction was made. DOL Fact Sheet #16.

Uniforms, Tools, and Other Equipment Necessary for Employment

Mississippi does not have any laws prohibiting an employer from requiring an employee to purchase a uniform, tools, or other items necessary for employment.

Pre-hire Medical, Physical, or Drug Tests

Mississippi 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

Mississippi does not have any laws addressing when or how an employer may reduce an employees wages or whether an employer must provide employees notice prior to instituting a wage reduction.

Statement of Wages (Pay Stub)

Mississippi does not have any laws requiring employers to provide employees of notice of wage rates, dates of pay, employment policies, fringe benefits, or other terms and conditions of employment.

Record Keeping Requirements

Mississippi does not have any laws requiring an employer to keep any employment-related documents.

Federal law requires every employer covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to keep certain records for each covered, nonexempt worker, for at least three (3) years. For more information, visit FLSA.

Notice Requirements

Mississippi does not have any laws requiring employers to provide employees of notice of wage rates, dates of pay, employment policies, fringe benefits, or other terms and conditions of employment.