Human Resource Blog

Commission after Resignation

	Compensation
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I work in North Carolina. I resigned from my job on the first day of the month. I am in commissioned sales. I never recieved an employee handbook so I don’t know if I am entitled to the commission I earned in the prior month. The company is denying my pay because I did not give 2 weeks notice. Am I entitled to the commission earned for that month?

It’s almost unheard of for a commissioned sales person who resigns to continue to be paid commissions. Usually you are entitled to any commissions that would have been payable through your last date of employment.

Example: ABC Widget pays commission the following month. So commissions are paid in May for sales in April. Commissions are paid in June for sales in May. Connie quits, effective May 30. She would usually be entitled to commissions for sales in April that are paid in May, because she was still employed in May. However, she would usually not be entitled to commissions paid in June, for sales in May.

However, this all depends upon the specific employer’s written policy. There should be an employee handbook, contract or offer letter that you can refer to, that outlines the commission structure.