My wife is about to give two weeks' notice at her employer. She is an employee in very good standing and has accepted employment at a new employer. The timing of the notice is she finishes old job's two weeks notice on a Friday and starts the new job on the following Monday. What I want to know is if she gives notice. Can her current employer cut the two weeks notice short? Can they do this without paying her?

Unless she has a contract that states otherwise, the employer can choose to accept her resignation immediately. It's the risk that any individual runs when they give notice. In that case, the employer has no legal obligation to pay a person for time that is not actually worked. Many employers will pay under those circumstances, however.

Can her current employer cut the two weeks notice short?

Yes.

Can they do this without paying her?

Yes.

I got the answers I needed. Thank you all!!!!!

Should they accept her resignation on a immediate basis they must pay her all monies due on the spot. If they let her work out the last two weeks, they must pay her all monies due on her final day.

http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/FinalPay.pdf

The question was not, when is final pay due. The question was, does she have to be paid for an unworked notice period.

The answer to that question is, no.