South Dakota Final Wage Payment Demand
South Dakota Final Wage Payment Demand
From: [EMPLOYEE NAME]
Address: [MAILING ADDRESS]
Phone/email: [CONTACT]
Date: [__/__/____]
To: [EMPLOYER LEGAL NAME]
Attention: [PAYROLL OR MANAGER]
Address: [ADDRESS]
Re: Cash wages earned through [LAST DAY WORKED]
I worked for [EMPLOYER] as [POSITION] from [START DATE] through [LAST DAY]. My employment ended when ☐ the employer separated me on [DATE] ☐ I resigned on [DATE]. If I resigned, I ☐ had no written employment contract for a definite period ☐ had a written contract described as follows: [DETAILS].
I request payment of the cash wages itemized below. The regular stated payday on which these hours would normally have been paid was [DATE]. I have received $[AMOUNT] toward these wages, leaving $[TOTAL] unpaid before lawful payroll withholding.
| Work or pay period | Hours and rate or wage basis | Cash wages earned | Cash wages paid | Unpaid amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [DATES] | [HOURS/RATE OR BASIS] | $[AMOUNT] | $[AMOUNT] | $[AMOUNT] |
| [DATES] | [HOURS/RATE OR BASIS] | $[AMOUNT] | $[AMOUNT] | $[AMOUNT] |
| Total | $[AMOUNT] | $[AMOUNT] | $[TOTAL] |
Employer property: ☐ I returned all employer property in my possession on [DATE], including [ITEMS]. ☐ I have the following property and offer to return it by [METHOD, DATE, AND PLACE]: [ITEMS]. ☐ We disagree about the following item: [FACTS]. Sections 60-11-10 and 60-11-11 tie the final wage payment rule to return of employer property; please identify promptly any specific property you contend remains outstanding.
Please pay the amount due by [REQUESTED DATE] through [USUAL PAYROLL METHOD OR ADDRESS]. If you dispute the total, please provide the amount you concede is due and a written explanation of the difference. Under SDCL 60-11-13, an employer must pay the conceded amount without condition on the applicable wage-payment schedule; my acceptance of that payment does not release the disputed balance.
Please send the wage calculation and response to [CONTACT ADDRESS]. This demand concerns cash wages under SDCL 60-11-14 and reserves any other claim supported by the employment records.
Sincerely,
Signature: [SIGNATURE]
Printed name: [NAME]
Enclosures: [TIME RECORDS, PAY STUBS, PROPERTY RETURN RECEIPT, EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, OR NONE]
Official source
About this template
- Last updated
- October 27, 2026
- Citations checked
- October 27, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- South Dakota
- Category
- Employment & HR
Legal authority
- SDCL 60-11-10 (employer separation and property-return condition)
- SDCL 60-11-11 (resignation without a definite-period written contract)
- SDCL 60-11-13 (payment of conceded wages during a dispute)
- SDCL 60-11-14 (cash-wage scope)
Employment documents govern the relationship between a company and its workers, from offer letters and employment agreements through handbooks, performance reviews, and separations. Done right, they set clear expectations, protect against wrongful termination and discrimination claims, and give both sides a record to rely on. Done poorly, they invite lawsuits, agency complaints, and costly disputes.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on October 27, 2026.
SDCL 60-11-10 (checked October 27, 2026): "the unpaid wages or compensation of such employee are due and payable not later than the next regular stated pay day for which those hours would have normally been paid"
SDCL 60-11-11 (checked October 27, 2026): "Whenever an employee not having a written contract for a definite period quits or resigns that employment, the wages or compensation earned are due and payable not later than the next regular stated pay day"
SDCL 60-11-13 (checked October 27, 2026): "The employer shall pay such amount without condition within the time set by §§ 60-11-9 to 60-11-12, inclusive. Acceptance by the employee of any payment made pursuant to this section does not constitute a release as to the balance of the claim."
SDCL 60-11-14 (checked October 27, 2026): "Sections 60-11-8 to 60-11-23, inclusive, do not apply to any form of compensation other than cash wages owing to any employee by or on behalf of any employer."
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