Having trouble getting paychecks

Robert O'Connor_7

Depending on which state you are from (labor laws vary state to state) it could be delayed legally up to one month. Doesn't sound like a very nice outfit to work for. Good luck.

Robert O'Connor/NJ

Ken C.

It's like pulling teeth to get paid from this guy

The company I've worked for the past few months seems unable or unwilling to pay its employees in a timely manner. Other (more professional) companies I've worked at always handed you your paycheck first thing in the morning on payday.

Instead, this guy makes his employees wait until late Friday afternoon or even Saturday. He often won't tell you when the checks will be available. Instead of bringing the checks to his workers, he often makes them go out of their way to pick them up. There have also been a few instances of workers not being able to cash their checks.

Recently, my boss and I had a falling out over other issues, and I was let go. The separation was not amicable (on his part anyway, I was actually relieved to go), and now I'm having trouble getting my last paycheck. I told him I wanted to pick up my last check in person, rather than having it mailed. I called him and his wife Friday afternoon, but their phones just went to voicemail. I showed up on the jobsite, but he had left early (the other guys hadn't got checks either). When I finally reached him by phone, he claimed he put the check in the mail that morning. If that was true, there would be a 95 percent chance I would get it in Saturday's mail, but it didn't arrive. There's a chance it could come Monday (tomorrow), but I'm not too optimistic, since I think this guy is stonewalling me. He may be having cash flow problems.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation, and how did you handle it? Anyone else have any suggestions? If I don't get my check in tomorrow's mail, I am considering calling my state's labor department.

John Boyer

i wonder if the employees show up to work,do thier part...

do what they say they are going to do be where they say they are going to be ....perhaps the employees are the real problem and he is trying to get through to them just how important these minor technicalities are to the clients he has and is attempting to pass along the insight.

Ken C.

All the employees are reliable and hardworking

No slackers here, dude.

ryan_7

paychecks late

I my early years before I started working for the family business, I worked for a larger refrigeration company. We were paid on time, in the beginning. Then it started with you cannot get paid until we finish the job, We started out getting paid every two weeks then it went to three.
I also was working 70 to 80 hours a week and getting paid salary for 40. The story was in the winter we would only work 20 hours a week and get paid for 40 so it would equal out. Come fall I was let go, thats how it equaled out. lol. They have since gone out of business.
Employees our a company's greatest assest, when they are not getting paid, the company is not far from closing the doors. Just my two cents worth
Ryan
If we were to have a cash flow problem, the employees would be the first to be paid, then the suppliers, then me.

ryan_7

paychecks late

I my early years before I started working for the family business, I worked for a larger refrigeration company. We were paid on time, in the beginning. Then it started with you cannot get paid until we finish the job, We started out getting paid every two weeks, then it went to three.
I also was working 70 to 80 hours a week and getting paid salary for 40. The story was in the winter we would only work 20 hours a week and get paid for 40 so it would equal out. Come fall I was let go, thats how it equaled out. lol. They have since gone out of business.
Employees are a company's greatest assest, when they are not getting paid, the company is not far from closing the doors. Just my two cents worth
Ryan
If we were to have a cash flow problem, the employees would be the first to be paid, then the suppliers, then me.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Call the state labor dept. And don't wait.

Ed

gerry gill

yup, call the labor board

around here i think the employer must pay within 72 hours of an employee quiting or he is still on the clock..if being fired he has to be paid right then and there...there are laws governing this exact senario, call the labor board and be very very gratefull your outa' there.

Ragu

To The Lone Wrencher

Might as well make the call to the State. It may be hard for you at first, but I think that it will empower you in a positive way; and, you will have a better chance of getting paid.

About 6 years ago, our plumbing inspector (who also is a practicing plumber) got into a jam on a heating job; basically, he dilly-dallied for too long. If he didn't finish in one more day, he was getting thrown off the job without payment.

My helper and myself left our installation to bail him out (13 straight hours to finish). He never paid me. After 6 months (too long) of sending overdue notices, I took him to Small Claims Court (against the wishes of other contractors). I got paid, and I will never, ever work for him again. Go with your gut feeling of what is right.

Mark Hunt

State labor board


they have the solution to this issue.

And it wouldn't matter if every employee was a slacker,(I am sure they are not) the law is very clear on this.

Pay the man his money!

Mark H

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John Boyer

in that case when you work for the money then you should

be paid. thats how that whole systems supposed to work.

Wayco Wayne

It sounds like some

Contractors or homeowners I've had the misfortune to meet since I've been in business. Part of the job sometimes is getting the money from the tardy customer or contractor. When I hear people say "Oh yeah I want ot go into business for myself" I can't help thinking, "be careful what you wish for." It's not fun and can make you lose sleep if it gets under your skin. Keep nudging this guy and he'll finally pay you just to make you go away. Calling the labor board about it sounds like good insurance too. WW

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WPH2205

I've seen this before. In fact, it was one of the reasons I left the contractor I worked for for 7 years and went on my own. In my case, and in many other cases I've seen, it was not a cash flow problem, it was a control issue. This guy liked to let you know HE was the boss, and he could control his employees by playing these games with their checks. He would deliberately not have the checks ready on time, or they would be made out but not signed, or they would be signed but he "forgot" them at his house, etc, etc. It's not about the money it's all about control.

George_10

I have a very low tolerance for

this kind of messing around with my money. When I owned my own company with 14 employees, I moved heaven and earth to have my checks available on time. Employers demand all sorts of things from their emplyees. I believe an employee has the right to expect his check on time with no games. If not leave the........

Certain things in job/work world make my Irish come to the surface quick. This is one of them. A part from it being illegal in many states, it is patently unethical to mess with employees in this way.

Good employers treat their employees with respect. The other kind should be left in a hurry. George's rule #2.

Mad Dog_2

If he's having financial problems he should at least level

with you - I've been there before - on both sides, and it is amazing how patient anyone will be when you look 'em in the eye and explain things. That being said, I think the boss is owed one last chance to pay up. Leave a message or show up unannounced and explain that you aren't looking to make trouble but that you've got bills to pay, and that you need to be paid IN CASH or With BANK Check, within 2 days or you are going to the labor dept. He'll pay you, no one needs problems with them. Good luck. Mad Dog

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Matt_21

we have two

guys who work for us now that said their previous employer on some weeks, would hold back $50 from their checks, give them $50 worth of raffle tickets his kids were supposed to sell for baseball, school, etc. and tell them to keep the money once they sold all the tickets. other times they had to sell candybars. it's unbelievable how some of the guys operate.

Bill_34

Be Fair

If our company did something like this, our local UA union would have every man leave the job on Monday morning. It is damn hard to work without manpower.

Our payroll checks are distributed by 4:30 pm every Friday, but the checks are ready by Friday morning if the men want to meander to the bank during that work day to make a deposit. The payroll is based on a Wednesday to Wednesday work week and we pay 1-1/2 times for every hour worked after 4:30 regardless of whether the work week had 20 hours or 50 hours of work completed on the time cards.

You gotta' treat your men fairly...even if you are not unionized !!

Bill