Idaho Employment Law — full calculator

Preguntas frecuentes

• What is Idaho's final paycheck deadline?

  Under Idaho Code §45-606, employers must pay all final wages by whichever comes first: the employee's next regularly scheduled payday, or within 10 business days of the separation date (weekends and state holidays excluded). This rule applies the same way whether the employee was fired, laid off, or quit voluntarily.

• Can an Idaho employee speed up their final paycheck?

  Yes. If the employee submits a written request for early payment, the employer must pay all wages owed within 48 hours of receiving that request (weekends and holidays excluded), regardless of the standard 10-day or next-payday deadline.

• What happens if an Idaho employer misses the final paycheck deadline?

  The employer may face administrative penalties up to $750 (reduced to $500 if wages are paid before the Idaho Department of Labor files a state lien). If the employee sues in court, Idaho Code §45-615 allows the court to award liquidated damages equal to three times the unpaid wages, plus attorney fees and court costs.

• Are non-compete agreements enforceable in Idaho?

  Yes, but only for 'key employees' — defined under Idaho Code §44-2702 as those who possess high-value insider knowledge, relationships, or influence that could harm the employer's legitimate business interests. There is a rebuttable presumption that employees in the top 5% of a company's payroll qualify as key employees.

• How long can a non-compete last in Idaho?

  Idaho Code §44-2704 creates a rebuttable presumption that a post-employment non-compete restriction of 18 months or less is reasonable as to duration. Agreements exceeding 18 months require additional consideration (beyond employment itself) to be enforceable. Courts can reduce or modify (blue-pencil) an overly long agreement rather than voiding it entirely.

• Does Idaho require employers to provide meal or rest breaks?

  No. Idaho has no state law requiring employers to provide meal periods or rest breaks to adult employees. Idaho follows the federal FLSA, which is also silent on this requirement. Any breaks are governed by employer policy or individual employment contracts.

• Is there a state-mandated sick leave law in Idaho?

  No. Idaho has no state law requiring private employers to provide paid or unpaid sick leave. Sick leave is entirely at the employer's discretion for private-sector workers (state government employees have separate statutory accrual rules).

• What is Idaho's minimum wage in 2026?

  Idaho's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour as of 2026 — the same as the federal FLSA floor. A 2025 bill (H0485) that proposed increases was not enacted into law. There is no local minimum wage in Idaho, as the state preempts municipal minimum wage ordinances.

• Does Idaho follow federal overtime rules?

  Yes. Idaho follows the FLSA standard: non-exempt employees must be paid 1.5× their regular rate for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Idaho has no daily overtime threshold (unlike California), no double-time requirement, and no seventh-day rule.