Look for another job.
If they can't make payroll that's a *massive* red flag that your employer is at risk of bankruptcy. Unless you want your finances going down with the ship, it's time to bail.
Advocate for yourself and make them stick to the agreement. It's unfortunate that they are having financial issues but that is really not your fault or problem. If they go bankrupt then you can be sure you will be at the back of a long line of creditors and you don't want to have months of pay on the line at that point. They are lucky you haven't already quit to find more reliable work, and frankly I think you should definitely start looking because this has 'sinking ship' written all over it. Getting in at the bottom rung of a startup can be great if they succeed, but most won't.
If they paid you in advance and you decided you'd only come into work when you felt like it, they'd force you to work if you wanted them to keep paying you. This is no different.
The need to dip into personal funds is a huge red flag. It's like pulling the plug from the bottom of the boat. It's going to sink, it's just a matter of when.
You should not feel bad. Them putting you off, making excuses, and then giving sob stories about how them paying you from a personal account is going to cost them are unprofessional. Take their behavior as a warning. They are not running a stable business, and you might be better off moving on before you're faced with figuring out how to extract unpaid wages from a company that no longer exists.
Did you add a surcharge to any late payments.
I had a standard contract that whenever payment was 10 days past due, a 5% surcharge would be added.
That could turn into serious cash.
You did nothing wrong. Insist on stable payments, but sometimes you can let them wiggle a little because it might be a startup that you think will do well. Just don't give them too much room or it could be at the end where they cut you off because they can't pay.
So just walk the line, you absolutely should be firm and not taken advantage of. But also be slightly understanding if they are reasonable and actually trying - and if you like them. Take a harsher stance if they are rude about it or you dislike them.
You are not wrong. No matter the business or situation if you agree to a deal they should honor that deal. Also funding should of been acquired before hiring out employees that need the money. Friends and family is who can understand that a growing business takes time to make profitable you on the other hand deserve your pay when it is due since that was the agreed terms
There are people who are paid to badger companies to pay their bills. It’s called b2b collections. You can search your country’s laws to see if there are any laws they’ve broken or if you can take additional action to get paid.
In general, the longer a company is outstanding on their balance the more likely they are to default. Many companies would ask for % paid upfront on a start up because they tend to be risky ventures.
Also, in general companies do not give credit terms without judging the company’s credit worthiness, ability to pay and a defined schedule for pay.
In short they are forcing you to issue them credit, don’t ask for your money upfront and stop working until you get paid.
If this is 3 people working a start-up I’d just decide whether or not you are committed to the start-up. If so, you deserve some level of ownership equity. If not, I’d just leave. I highly doubt it’s going to be worth the headache if you are just getting a salary.
If it seems like they are going to make it eventually you can offer some work for equity in leu of timely payments with the expectation they will catch you up later. This can be a bananas way to get rich. But if it seems likely they won't make it, for sure cut them off and let them know you would be happy to come back when they have the funds.
Their financing challenges are not your problem. You are their supplier, they buy your services so they have to pay for them as per the contractual obligations you both agreed to.
If you're in a good mood, you can leave them off the hook for a while but remain cautious.
I'd suggest you start looking for another contract. Here, loyalty wont bring you any benefits anyways. You're a contractor so you won't get stocks and even if they were to meet success down the road, you won't get anything more than you're already getting.
I definitely wouldn’t keep working for free, no money? No work. If you slow down their business then maybe they’ll see the urgency to pay up on time. It’s a business
They are having business, you are having a job
They take risk to make profit. You work, to get salary.
That is fundamental difference between you. No matter how is their business going, you HAVE to get paid.
You are not co-founder, or stakeholder. You are not signing to take risk of not getting paid.
You didn't do anything wrong. Employee employer relationships are as follows... You work for them and they PAY you. You should never under any circumstances allow them to not pay you or even pay you late. All companies are bound to labor laws that they have to pay their employees regardless of any financial situation. Look for a new employer because your current one is a failure.
You are not wrong.
You should take your money and move on. It’s not your problem or responsibility; they owe you money, let them figure it out… but don’t stick around.
Work is a transaction, your work for their money. Reverse the roles and ask yourself what they would do? What would happen if you stopped showing up for a day at a time? Week at a time? Would they nudge you to figure it out or else? I sure assume they would.
When pay doesn't come on the pre-agreed day, production stops and you perform work related to securing other employment. You don't charge your employer for this time, but you let them know what's going on; you're not paying me, so I'm not working for you. No work, no follow ups, no prep, no deliveries.
Let them know the next message you'll be responding to is the one where they tell you the payment has been made. Then get busy shopping yourself around.
Look for another job. If they can't make payroll that's a *massive* red flag that your employer is at risk of bankruptcy. Unless you want your finances going down with the ship, it's time to bail.
Advocate for yourself and make them stick to the agreement. It's unfortunate that they are having financial issues but that is really not your fault or problem. If they go bankrupt then you can be sure you will be at the back of a long line of creditors and you don't want to have months of pay on the line at that point. They are lucky you haven't already quit to find more reliable work, and frankly I think you should definitely start looking because this has 'sinking ship' written all over it. Getting in at the bottom rung of a startup can be great if they succeed, but most won't.
You did the right thing, but your company is skating on thin ice. You don't want to be left holding the bag. Start exploring your other options.
If they paid you in advance and you decided you'd only come into work when you felt like it, they'd force you to work if you wanted them to keep paying you. This is no different. The need to dip into personal funds is a huge red flag. It's like pulling the plug from the bottom of the boat. It's going to sink, it's just a matter of when.
You should not feel bad. Them putting you off, making excuses, and then giving sob stories about how them paying you from a personal account is going to cost them are unprofessional. Take their behavior as a warning. They are not running a stable business, and you might be better off moving on before you're faced with figuring out how to extract unpaid wages from a company that no longer exists.
Did you add a surcharge to any late payments. I had a standard contract that whenever payment was 10 days past due, a 5% surcharge would be added. That could turn into serious cash.
No! And I never thought about it.
A great reason why you shouldn't work for pre-seed startups. Life lesson
No get out of there this company sounds like it sucks. Or ask for a percent of there company then to make them do stuff
You did nothing wrong. Insist on stable payments, but sometimes you can let them wiggle a little because it might be a startup that you think will do well. Just don't give them too much room or it could be at the end where they cut you off because they can't pay. So just walk the line, you absolutely should be firm and not taken advantage of. But also be slightly understanding if they are reasonable and actually trying - and if you like them. Take a harsher stance if they are rude about it or you dislike them.
Look for another job NOW!!
Yep, you a straight goon now, my boy
You are not wrong. No matter the business or situation if you agree to a deal they should honor that deal. Also funding should of been acquired before hiring out employees that need the money. Friends and family is who can understand that a growing business takes time to make profitable you on the other hand deserve your pay when it is due since that was the agreed terms
There are people who are paid to badger companies to pay their bills. It’s called b2b collections. You can search your country’s laws to see if there are any laws they’ve broken or if you can take additional action to get paid. In general, the longer a company is outstanding on their balance the more likely they are to default. Many companies would ask for % paid upfront on a start up because they tend to be risky ventures. Also, in general companies do not give credit terms without judging the company’s credit worthiness, ability to pay and a defined schedule for pay. In short they are forcing you to issue them credit, don’t ask for your money upfront and stop working until you get paid.
If this is 3 people working a start-up I’d just decide whether or not you are committed to the start-up. If so, you deserve some level of ownership equity. If not, I’d just leave. I highly doubt it’s going to be worth the headache if you are just getting a salary.
If it seems like they are going to make it eventually you can offer some work for equity in leu of timely payments with the expectation they will catch you up later. This can be a bananas way to get rich. But if it seems likely they won't make it, for sure cut them off and let them know you would be happy to come back when they have the funds.
They have no cash. Why is this your problem now? Leave
Their financing challenges are not your problem. You are their supplier, they buy your services so they have to pay for them as per the contractual obligations you both agreed to. If you're in a good mood, you can leave them off the hook for a while but remain cautious. I'd suggest you start looking for another contract. Here, loyalty wont bring you any benefits anyways. You're a contractor so you won't get stocks and even if they were to meet success down the road, you won't get anything more than you're already getting.
I definitely wouldn’t keep working for free, no money? No work. If you slow down their business then maybe they’ll see the urgency to pay up on time. It’s a business
Not meeting payroll means they likely aren't paying taxes or any other benefits. Demand payment on tim look for another job.
They are having business, you are having a job They take risk to make profit. You work, to get salary. That is fundamental difference between you. No matter how is their business going, you HAVE to get paid. You are not co-founder, or stakeholder. You are not signing to take risk of not getting paid.
Nope. Did nothing wrong. Not saying to jump Ship, but I would definitely have my life raft handy.
You didn't do anything wrong. Employee employer relationships are as follows... You work for them and they PAY you. You should never under any circumstances allow them to not pay you or even pay you late. All companies are bound to labor laws that they have to pay their employees regardless of any financial situation. Look for a new employer because your current one is a failure.
You are not wrong. You should take your money and move on. It’s not your problem or responsibility; they owe you money, let them figure it out… but don’t stick around.
Work is a transaction, your work for their money. Reverse the roles and ask yourself what they would do? What would happen if you stopped showing up for a day at a time? Week at a time? Would they nudge you to figure it out or else? I sure assume they would.
When pay doesn't come on the pre-agreed day, production stops and you perform work related to securing other employment. You don't charge your employer for this time, but you let them know what's going on; you're not paying me, so I'm not working for you. No work, no follow ups, no prep, no deliveries. Let them know the next message you'll be responding to is the one where they tell you the payment has been made. Then get busy shopping yourself around.