W.Va. Senate, Tomblin compromise on fired workers

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- The West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee has passed a bill that would give employers more time to pay fired or laid off workers.

Under current law businesses have 72 hours to pay workers after they are dismissed. The penalty for late payment is three times the amount owed.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin had proposed a bill that would give employers until the next scheduled pay day. The committee amended Tomblin's bill to give employers until the next pay day, or four business days, whichever comes first.

Ironically, Republicans in the committee fought unsuccessfully to preserve the Democratic Tomblin's original bill.

The compromise was crafted with input from the state Chamber of Commerce and labor unions.

A Tomblin spokesman said that the governor was satisfied with the Senate's bill.