I recently put my two weeks notice in to my employer to start my own > company. When he found out why I was quitting he immediatly terminated my > position. According to my last few paychecks I had 80 hours of Vacation > time. The vacation time is listed under PTO. As they handed me my last > check I noticed that they were trying to not pay me for any of it. When I > mentioned it they only paid me for half of my time since it was only > halfway into the year. Can they do that when it is listed as available > time?

Not all available time is accrued time. While I personally don't like the practice, many employers allow employee to take time they have not yet earned. Quite often the paycheck reflects the amount of time you WILL have available if you continue employment, not all the time you have available today.

The law in your state requires that you be paid ACCRUED time, not available time. If the only time you have accrued is half of what shows as available, then half is all you have to be paid.

I recently put my two weeks notice in to my employer to start my own > company. When he found out why I was quitting he immediatly terminated my > position. According to my last few paychecks I had 80 hours of Vacation > time. The vacation time is listed under PTO. As they handed me my last > check I noticed that they were trying to not pay me for any of it. When I > mentioned it they only paid me for half of my time since it was only > halfway into the year. Can they do that when it is listed as available > time?In Colorado, the employer has to pay upon separation from employment all vacation pay that is earned, nothing more.