Unpaid Final Salary + Pto From Former Employer

Location: Florida

Hi all,

I’m trying to decide whether this is worth pursuing or whether I should move on.

I was terminated from my role on Wednesday, 7/15/2026. My separation letter stated that I would receive my “final paycheck, covering all earned wages through the Separation Date,” as well as “any accrued, unused paid time off payable under [Employer] policy.”

• Final wages: I was salaried and paid semi-monthly, on the 15th and the last day of each month. The July 15 paystub covered the pay period through 7/10. My July 31 paystub showed only the severance payment, with no separate salary payment for 7/13–7/15. So according to the documents, I was never paid for those three days. When I brought this up the former employer also said my final salary "should have been added", but I still have not received.
• PTO: In May 2026, I signed the company handbook acknowledgment and emailed it back. The handbook states: “Upon separation from employment, employees will be paid out for accrued, unused PTO up to a maximum of five (5) days, except where state law requires a greater payout.” My July 15 paystub showed 100 hours of accrued PTO, well above five days at 8hrs/day. I was not paid any PTO in the final (July 31) stub. When I contacted my former employer regarding this, they gave several different explanations: first saying that Florida does not require PTO payout, then saying I had an “old handbook”. Finally, they said that the handbook had been updated after the version I signed. They never provided a newer version or any notice of the alleged change after I requested it multiple times. The handbook also states that it is not a contract. Another section says the company may modify or discontinue benefits with reasonable notice, and that employees would be notified of material changes. I was not notified of any changes, a former colleague also said he never received an updated handbook.

I sent a written demand for both the final wages and the PTO by email and certified mail, and the deadline has passed without payment. I’ve contacted a few firms, but I don’t think they’ll take it on given the small amount, so I’m considering representing myself in small claims (just under $3k, plus court costs).

Questions:

1. Is my wage claim for 7/13–7/15 straightforward, given the pay period dates on the paystubs and the fact that the July 31 payment was only severance?
2. In Florida, is the handbook’s PTO payout provision enforceable despite the not a contract disclaimer, given the separation letter’s reference to PTO payable under the company policy? I understand Florida law does not generally require employers to pay out unused PTO.