Small business struggling to pay me

[Sandra2010]

I started working in May for a small business owner. I really like her, she's trying so hard and is ambitious and clever, about 10 years younger than me. I want her to succeed. She's also honest, her main priority is to offer a service that doesn't overcharge people or try to oversell to them. She would rather get less money from one client but have them give a good review to two more potential ones, if that makes sense. I work 18 hours a week for minimum wage, and jobshare with another staff member. This month, she told me that she hadn't been able to pay my whole wage but would get the rest to me as soon as she could. I'm lucky enough to be able to tell her that it was okay and not to panic, there was no rush. However, my pay date is the first of the month and I still don't have the rest of my wage. I'm about £160 down. It's not a massive problem in terms of our own finances (I know, we're lucky in the current climate), we're not going to struggle, but I worry about it escalating. I want to be loyal to her and help her any way I can, but am I being a fool to allow it to go on this long, and how do I confront her while not spoiling our relationship?

I’d be looking for alternative employment as a priority

If she can’t afford to pay her staff NMW then it’s not a viable business. I’d be looking for another job.

Sounds like she’s got a hobby rather than running a business.
If her business isn’t viable it will go under ( having good intentions doesn’t equal success. Get out before she owes you even more money
Unless of course you want to work for free

Paying staff is a priority over pretty much all other bills of hers. She has had 13 days extra. You need to push her.

"Hi X, just a gentle reminder for the remainder of my pay - was happy to wait a little while for it as a favour but it is needed ahead of Christmas. Can you please arrange a transfer on Monday? Thanks, OP"

Yes you’re being a complete fool. She is taking advantage of you being a nice person and of course you deserve to be paid for your work. You mention your loyalty to her but what about her loyalty to her employees? If her business can’t even manage to pay you minimum wage then it is simply not a viable business and more importantly she is breaking the law. I’d tell her that she has to pay you the money owed immediately or you’ll be reporting her to HMRC. If you don’t need the money and you would rather do voluntary charity work then surely there are far more worthy causes than this.

Give your notice. Unless you want to be a volunteer? But is this woman the most worthy charitable cause you can give your time to?

She’s running her company badly. If she’s not charging enough for the service to pay the staff wages. Rule number one of being an employer, you pay your staff! It’s so disrespectful, and now she knows it’s not an issue for you you’ll be at the bottom of the pile, because she doesn’t respect you.

Doesn't sound like her business is viable

She needs to be paying her staff

I certainly wouldn't say to her that you're not in a rush for the money. Your time is just as valuable as anyone else's.

Is she taking a salary?

Your 'relationship' that you're so concerned about 'spoiling', is that of employer and employee.

If she wants loyal employees she needs to be paying them their full agreed wage, on time, at a bare minimum.

Her business is going nowhere. If she can't afford to pay her employees, then she's not charging her clients enough, despite her 'worthy' intentions, and quite frankly you've let her take the piss out of you.

"Hi X, just a gentle reminder for the remainder of my pay - was happy to wait a little while for it as a favour but it is needed ahead of Christmas. Can you please arrange a transfer on Monday? Thanks, Op"

I'd be sending that ^
Don't agree to this happening again but if it does, start looking for another job.

If she doesn’t have enough regular predictable income to comfortably pay her staff then she’s taken people on too soon/on too many hours. She’s not viable.

I suppose I was feeling that out of the two of us, the other half of my jobshare needs the money more (like really more, for a lot of reasons) and if it had to be one of us getting a delayed wage its better that it's me. (I don't know that it is only me, it might be both of us, I hope not.) I think I'll go with @BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz advice, but am considering getting back into the jobs market too! Thanks, everyone, for confirming that I'm an idiot!

I'm a business owner and we prioritise paying our staff over absolutely everything. The honourable attitude of not over charging or over selling and charging less for good reviews is lovely, but staff shouldn't be paying for it. A other issues is many business are at their most cash rich this time of year, we have to be as we earn next to nothing through January. Accounts have to be submitted at the end of January, then there will be accountants and tax bills, so get your money now op.

The owner of the business has a responsibility to pay their staff. She should have savings for months where actual takings are too low to pay wages.
It doesn't sound like she knows anything about running a business or being an employer so unless you want to work as an unpaid volunteer until the business inevitably folds, I'd leave.