I have left my last job after about 10 months of being hired and had already accrued over 80 hours of vacation that I had not used during my employment. On my last paycheck I was surprised to see that I did not get paid for my unused vacation time. My question is whether I am entitled to receive payment for those unused hours or not?

thank you.

This has gone back and forth over the last few months. The latest I heard was that yes, you should have been paid for it. File a claim with the DLI. It either works or it doesn't, but it just takes a little bit of time and it's free.

Which raises a good point. We sometimes assume that all states have thought all of this stuff out, when frequently they have not. Even large states with serious state DOL like CA still have issues that we have been waiting years (or decades) for them to make an understandable decision on. Not what everyone wants to hear.

Nothing in Maryland is that simple. Especially when you have to deal with the DLLR (when they actually exist). Here is a link to the latest http://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/wagepay/wpunusedvacpay.htm

My understanding, as an employer, is that your policy that is communicated to the employee at the time of hire is in effect. This was based on the decision a couple years ago that filled in this gap for employers. Under previous decision, employees were entitled to pay for any and all unused vacation hours. I believe that this was going to be debilitating to employers so a decision was issued on how to handle such cases.

mcdougal, please do not post to long dead threads. Thank you.

Just for the record though, the policy at the time of hire is not controlling.

Elle, please do not reply to old threads. Thanks. :D I'm just teasing - in this case, we do want the correct info "for the record." Thanks.