Article: California law overrides firm's 'use it or lose it' vacation policy

Question: My boss told me that if I do not use my accrued vacation by year's end, then I will forfeit it. Is that legal? _ D.A., Torrance

Answer: No, it is not. Vacation pay is a form of wages. You earn it as you work, and you are entitled to that time just like you are entitled to be paid for your services. A so-called "use it or lose it" vacation policy is illegal in California. Your employer simply can pay you at year's end for vacation earned but not taken.

Q: I recently got laid off from my job. I worked there one year and one week. I was told that I would get one week of vacation every year. When they laid me off, they did not give me my vacation pay although I had not taken any ...

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