Employer threatening to not pay wages

[james1980]

Not sure if this is in the right place but here goes.

I work for a small engineering company of three employees plus boss.

I have worked for the company for around 18 months and several times during this time my boss has said in the weeks leading up to payday that if work doesnt go out by payday that he 'cannot afford' to pay me.

The type of work we do involves some outside processes which if delayed obviously know our work back.

Also, the boss' organisation skills aren't up to much and have led to mistakes/delays in ordering raw materials etc which have also led to delays in our work.

The other 2 employees plus myself basically try to make the best and logical path through the unorganised mess that is left in the boss' wake, but we are still told by him that 'we' need to be more efficient.

I also have the condition IBS which can be brought on by stress and as I hope you understand that not knowing if I will have the money to pay bills is very stressfull.

Although up until now the I have always been paid on, or before time, I feel the threat of not being paid is really dragging me down and affecting my state of mind both in a health way and also in motivation at work.

Can anyone advise me on the legal issues of what he is doing and if I have any leg to stand on if I front up to him and say I am not taking it anymore?

Any advice would be great and if there are any websites with info to back me up that would be even better.

Many Thanks,

James.

[james1980]

*knock back.....not know back.

[boxtops]

I've said it before on other threads, but you can seek impartial advice from ACAS - compeltely impartial and free. http://www.acas.org.u...x.aspx?articleid=2042

Do you have a contract of employment? That should lay down when and how much you get paid. If he doesn't pay you, he's breaking the contract.

[james1980]

No we dont have written contracts. Basically just taken on with verbal 'contract'....should I ask for a written contract?

[boxtops]

You should have a contract, others will know better than me, there is a period after which it's the law that you should have some sort of contract.

[kinell]

it sounds like you have a verbal / implied contract, these are normally easily supported by custom and practice demonstrated by recent repeated practice...

it sounds like the contract has to date not been breached and that the statement is more like a push in the right direction....

if you dont like the pressure you can always vote with your feet..