Working Moms

Bad cash flow, no paycheck

I started a new job in January. My first time working at what's basically a startup that functions on client fees. I'm employee #5.

After I got here, I learned that the cash flow is tight month-to-month which I guess shouldn't be altogether unsurprising. Still, it's not something I'm used to. This company is small and a nonprofit and the executive tells me they can't get bank loans without a personal guarantor (which they don't have at present). Paychecks are about 10 days overdue this month. We had a staff mtg about it last week. They say the cash is coming, but they can't say when because we are literally waiting on checks to come in the mail from clients.

Part of me wants to look for a new job like RIGHT NOW. The other part of my brain is trying to remember that I get paid pretty well (probably better than I will elsewhere if I jump ship) and I have amazing amounts of autonomy and flexibility in my day to day schedule.

How big a deal would this late paycheck situation be to you?
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Re: Bad cash flow, no paycheck

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  • I may not always need the paycheck right away. (Ugh I hope!) we bought our first house this summer and moved in beginning of August. So we've been bleeding money getting it fixed up. We're down to probably two months of expenses in the emergency fund and that's definitely below my comfort threshold.
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  • Sounds like something the local United Way did here a few years back. Anyway....

    For me, it would be a huge deal since I pay the mortgage and childcare. If it happened more than once, I'd be gone. 

  • Since my computer doesn't show me the edit box...I'll just say that some non-profits work off donations which then take a portion for overhead costs which then they use for things like operating costs including payroll. In that case, if you don't have the donations you can't pay the bills. When you said non-profit, that is what it made me think of.

     

  • Wow, depending on your state, it may be illegal to pay employees that late.
  • ...not that your employer has a choice in the matter as it sounds.
  • Job hunt, now! 


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  • I would run. Everyone else pretty much covered it. You say you have a good salary, but if you can't count on getting your paycheck, does it really matter what your supposed pay rate is supposed to be? I would think that a company that can't pay it's employees is on the verge of collapsing.
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  • I'll echo PPs and say that I've seen companies be behind on payroll and I've never seen them continue to stay in business long.  Get out while you still can and haven't missed too many paychecks.  I'd literally start looking and calling contacts today.
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  • Honestly, in addition to looking for a different job, you may want to check your state's laws with regard to the "grace period", if you will, to pay wages.  They could be breaking the law.  Michigan, for example, has a Payment of Wages and Fringe Benefits Act that stipulates when employers must pay wages due to employees.  (The MI law indicates that an employer has one or more employees.)  Best of luck to you!!
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  • They are probably breaking the law by not paying you. In addition to looking for another job, I would research which agency in your state you can contact about that. In Texas it's the Texas Workforce Commission. Other states call it different things, but it's usually a name similar to that.

     



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  • I would be heading in the complete opposite direction from this place. Generally, employees are the last people that a company would stop paying. I would put money on the fact that not only are you not being paid, but I bet that the companies bills are not being paid. When it gets to this point, they are probably so far down in a hole that it will be impossible to dig their way out of it. Who knows if and when you will get this pay check. Then who knows how long it will be before you get your next one. 

    I would keep working, but would be working harder than anything trying to find another job to get out of there ASAP. How long can you live without getting paid? And even if you can, why would you want to work somewhere essentially for free?!
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  • Nope.  I have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to messing with my paycheck. 
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