I recently left my job and started a new one. I have been emailing back and forth with my former boss about receiving my final two paychecks. I have asked that they be mailed to my home which he refused, I then asked that they be dropped off at my former work site which he also refused. He says it is company policy that I have to come to their main office during normal business hours to receive my last checks. This is a problem for me since I am both working full time and attending school full time. Additionally, I currently work an overnight shift so the only time I am anywhere near the office is during the hours when they are closed. I was wondering if it is legal of them to require me to go to the office to pick up the check or if there is some sort of compromise that can be reached with them. Thanks for any help.

Fooey on him. File a claim for unpaid wages with the state AG's office.

I'm not aware of any law in MA that requires them to mail the check on your request. Some states do have such a law but to the best of my knowledge this is not one of them. Patty, Betty?

Not specifically, no. But I guess here is my point and this is just me as a manager and an employee talking. The OP has asked and emailed and asked and called and is getting nowhere. OP cannot come during normal business hours without missing time from his new job, which he doesn't want to do (understandably). Ex-employer will not mail or release to another individual even if OP gives his consent in writing. What is OP supposed to do? There is no logical reason for ex-employer to be this obstinate.

The OP can trying sending the request via certified letter to the former employer. Stress that leaving work will create an unnecessary hardship. The OP could even include a stamped self addressed envelope. Such an action would increase the chances of the former employer complying, and if not, increase the chances of the AG looking kindly on the employee's claim that all reasonable alternatives have been exhausted.

I agree that the employer is being hard-headed for no good reason. But the question is what he is legally BOUND to do. He is not OBLIGATED to mail the check.

I like DAW's suggestion.

One last thing. I have done a lot of payroll for a lot of years and companies I have worked for have always tried to make sure that when an employee terminated, final payments where handled as quickly and cleanly as possible. Not because the law required it, but because if an employer treats terminated employees badly, current employees will find out and act accordingly. These little snippy actions towards terminated employees at best waste everyone's time and brass people off, and at worse (correctly) open the company up to some type of legal action.

I think that the former employer in question in this thread is an idiot, but it is not against the law in most states to be an idiot. And IMO, getting in to a mud wrestling match with an idiot does not say good things about the smarts of the other participant. The OP should want to put their former employer as far in their rear view mirror as possible, as soon as possible, with the least amount of effort as possible. And count their blessing that they have moved on to a new employer.