Employer Benefits and Workplace
What about their accrued vacation or PTO?
Short answer
In California, accrued vacation and PTO are considered wages and cannot be forfeited. The employer must pay out the balance to the estate. Contact HR with a death certificate and ask for the final paycheck and vacation payout. This is California law…
What this usually means
In California, accrued vacation and PTO are considered wages and cannot be forfeited. The employer must pay out the balance to the estate. Contact HR with a death certificate and ask for the final paycheck and vacation payout. This is California law — employers cannot withhold it.
What to do next
- Start the PathAfter checklist for situation-aware first steps.
- Find California county phone numbers for coroner, vital records, and local offices.
- Open the First 72 Hours Call Log before making calls.
- Open the Documents to Find Checklist when you are ready for paperwork.