Legal Question in Business Law in Massachusetts

No. When an employer gives an employee a payroll check the check should be cashable then.

However, if the check is supposed to be given to you each Friday and they are giving you the check early because you do not work on Friday, then they may have the right to tell you not to deposit it or cash it until Friday.

I still do not believe an employer can give you a payroll check and tell you not to cash it once given to you.

As a practical matter, the check may bounce if you deposit it before Friday at 3 pm. Obviously your employer funds its payroll account every Friday afternoon. Your employer should not be doiing what he is doing, but my recommendation is not to create an unnecessary problem for yourself.