Company has no payroll funds? - Page 2

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

Re: the business trip they want you to take (and pay for)--I wouldn't. If they can't reliably pay the employees on time, they aren't likely to reliably reimburse you in a timely fashion, either. If you can afford to pay a couple grand out of pocket for air/hotel/food and not miss it, then go ahead. Just realize you might not get paid back. Personally, I wouldn't do it.

campbellcj · 12-11-2011, 11:52 AM

I agree, you need to look for other options immediately. Why would you lend this company money when they have already shown they cannot manage finances? Traveling on your dime is lending them money that you may never get back, or at least not promptly.

Por_sha911 · Por_sha911's Garage

BTDT. Reality is that if the company is willing to admit they can't pay you they must be in such bad shape that they are one step away from going belly up. If you've got any vacation days, use them to see if you get paid. Next, inform the company that you will be happy to return to work as soon as you are paid in full and up to date. Let them know you will travel only on the condition that you receive an advance. The only thing worse than losing your job is losing your job with the company owing you a ton of money. As already stated, you can collect unemployment if you refuse to work for free.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

contact the state labor or business agency & ask them about it

in Ore. it is called BOLI

URY914 · URY914's Garage

Ask for a prepaid hotel or get a company credit card.

Two Rivers · 12-11-2011, 03:44 PM

Thanks for all the advice. They want me to work but think I am going to contact the labor board or what ever it`s called.
The travel money will have to be paid up front. I just emailed the owner that is the only way I will travel for this job.

Jeezzzz finally get a job that payed very well and I enjoy and they have money problems. It is a fairly large company with a long history so I just do not understand this.

Oh well its back to looking for something but will stay here and hope the pay comes.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by URY914

Ask for a prepaid hotel or get a company credit card.

yes, mention you do NOT have any funds right now ... and BTW when will my back pay check be coming...

NOTE - if they go under, you will be an unsecured creditor (unless your state has some law saying otherwise)

and that means you will be last in line

island911 · 12-11-2011, 04:22 PM

You could ask for some type of collateral. ...computers, equipment...

HarryD · 12-11-2011, 05:51 PM

I had this happen to me as well. They were a week late in salary pay. I went to the owner (6 person company) and told him I spoke with the state. They told me that I needed to be paid on time or they would investigate. We were all paid the next day.

Fast forward 3 months, owner filed for bankrupcy and was bailed out by being bought out by a competitor. What happened to us? As our work work load was completed, we were laid off until the office closed. It was not a fun period.

Check you state labor laws.
Demand what you are due.
Prepare to get out.
Do not travel for them on your dime. They need to front 100% of the cost.

drcoastline · 12-11-2011, 06:14 PM

Two Rivers,

If it were me I would work week to week. If you get paid work another week. If you don't get paid you don't go back until you do. Tnben you work another week.

Under no circumstances would I put my own money on the table. When you take money out of your pocket in order to get paid that becomes very risky. If they want you to take money out of your pocket that means you just became an investor. Again if it were me and they wanted me to put money up, I want something in return and not just my money back dollar for dollar and my next weeks pay check. I want ownership, interest or both.

Bill Douglas · 12-11-2011, 06:57 PM

I would do the trip. At worst you are a few hundred out of pocket. Not the end of the world, and you could be helping the company big time by doing the trip.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

be sure to get it in writing (Email counts, as do faxes)

nothing oral after this failure to pay you & no his word & a handshake

sc_rufctr · 12-12-2011, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

I would do the trip. At worst you are a few hundred out of pocket. Not the end of the world, and you could be helping the company big time by doing the trip.

That's good advice. Why not be helpful if you can? I certainly would.

Meanwhile don't stop looking for a another job. At the end of the day you can only control what YOU do.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Y'all do realize that the rest of us all do work for free already and get nothing out of it - for 105 days a year on average!

What a lousy situation.

asphaltgambler · 12-12-2011, 05:06 AM

Worked at a VW dealership some years ago as a tech. Business prolly had 40 employess total. The owner was a coke-head had been in and out of re-hab 2 times in the two years I was there. You could see it coming if you kept your eyes open.

Unfortunately it was about this time of year and the paychecks did not 'arive'. Prior they had been 1-3 days late but they needed the techs more than anyone else. The detail and sales people had bounced payroll checks in the past, but they kept the techs paid....somewhat.

Until one day they did not. Excuses and additional excuses. I went to the owner who was actually there in his office and said that we have not recieved our checks. No one else would go in there. I was polite but firm. His reply was tha we didn't get paid that day - that we were paid on a different (read later)day.

I said that I have been working here for two years making you money and I d*mn well know when we get paid, It's the 15th and the last day of the month. You owe me "X" now and If I don't have my check by noon, I'll load up a tire changer and balancer and take it down to the pawn shop. You are going to pay me what you owe me; one way or another. His reply"i'll call the police" - I said firne, but I will get my money.

He did pay me then but it was @2 pm - I left right after and came back a few days later to pick up my tool box. They still owed me a few hundred for the time I billed next pay period but I wasn't waiting for that check to clear.

I would suggest an accelerated exit plan............................

fastfredracing · 12-12-2011, 05:43 AM

In the very worst of bad times, I always sent my employees home with a paycheck. I figured when I was no longer able to pay employees, it was time to throw in the towel.

jyl · jyl's Garage

Yup, what our military folks do is worthless. Having schools is worthless (you will be homeschooling I suppose). Having highways, air traffic control, drugs that work, food that isn't poisonous, air that is breathable, all worthless. Thank goodness whining is free.

Quote:

Y'all do realize that the rest of us all do work for free already and get nothing out of it - for 105 days a year on average!

What a lousy situation.

Groesbeck Hurricane · 12-12-2011, 06:18 AM

Per diem up front.

Harder to find a job if you are unemployed.

Check with your State Attorney General's Office. Failure to pay could be a major issue for them. Failure to re-imburse is a lesser issue in some states.

Find another position, this company does not sound very well managed and you could be stuck without being paid for your travel, time, expenses, anything.

Been in your shoes once before. A letter from my friendly Attorney got me my pay, but it was more than 90 days past due. The threat of the Attorney General actually made them move fast to pay after 90 days of dragging their feet. And they stopped paying while I was working for them... They lost a claim through the US Department of Labor a few years later and had to pay many of us back wages. Poor management for a company that is still in business today with several decades of existance.

drcoastline · 12-12-2011, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyl

Yup, what our military folks do is worthless. Having schools is worthless (you will be homeschooling I suppose). Having highways, air traffic control, drugs that work, food that isn't poisonous, air that is breathable, all worthless. Thank goodness whining is free.

With all due respect jyl,

Schooling can be done a lot better than the government run program. It's already been proven. The highways and bridges are in disrepair. So they arent spending the money on fixing them. The government doesnt make drugs. I seem to recall many instances of food poisioning. Ecoli tainted spinach and fruits. Tooth paste and dog food made with anti-freeze and toys covered in lead paint coming in from china. So the FDA and who ever controls the imported toys isnt doing a very good job. The air isnt breathable in many places and the water is contaminated as well. So the EPA is questionable.

But this thread isnt about that. I think his point was the first 3 and a half months go to taxes.

jyl · jyl's Garage

Agreed, all of those things could be done better. But without that 100 days for which POP says he gets nothing, they wouldn't be done at all.

The drug industry, without the FDA approval process, would be happy to sell useless junk just like the nutritional supplement industry does. The food industry, without FDA rules, wouldn't test for E coli at all. Etc.

There are examples of economies with little or no regulation. China's food (un)safety and pollution situation is one. A shame that some of it has gotten over here. Worse if more of it did.