For the last 6 months, I have worked for 14.5 hours a week for a small, family owned/run business.
It was agreed when I started that I would be paid via bank transfer on the 23rd of each month. The monthly figure was calculated by working out how much I would earn between my start date and the end of 2011, and divided by the number of payments due in that time. I don't have a contract or anything in writing. I've only had three payslips as well - nothing since July, despite asking for them several times.
I've never been paid on time - it is usually a few days late, and often only after myself or another employee has reminded them. There have been indications that the cash-flow in the business is dodgy - suppliers often refuse to take orders due to arrears or demand cash on delivery, for instance.
This month, my pay was late again, and yesterday I phoned in and told the owner that I couldn't afford to get to work because I hadn't been paid - the money went into my account a few hours later. I have proposed to the owner in writing that from now on, rather than be paid monthly, I would prefer to be paid at the end of each shift - I can actually invoice them as I also run my own business in a similar field of work, so could work on a freelance basis for them and deal with my own tax/NI and so forth.
I've not heard from the owner, and am due to be at work tomorrow - what should I do?