<prompt> Human: Hey there. First time posterlong time lurker here. I work for a toycollectablescomic shop. It probably wasnt the smartest idea to quit my soul crushing marketing job to work for a small business. But Im a nerd and I really do love the job. But it blows because the boss I feel has twisted my arm and forced me to make a move.So yeah, I dont get paid much here, slightly over minimum wage. We get paid every Friday, via a written check, under the table via a verbal contract. I have been friends with my employer for a number of years, so I assume he thinks its chill and I wouldnt raise a stink, but I ve gotta eat. I have not been paid in 3ish weeks. Working here for 4ish months. I have no once been handed a paycheck without asking for it. IT IS NOT THE EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT HE IS PAID ON TIME. THAT IS THE EMPLOYERS.So last week. Friday August 3rd. I brought up to my employer that I hadnt been paid for the previous week. I was thinking that this would remind him to pay me for this week, as well as get my pay from the previous week. He doesnt acknowledge that its payday, and then dismisses it with yeah, well just put the amount on the next one. So I just said okay. Then at the end of the day, he is leaving. keep in mind that it was the beginning of the month, and after paying bills, I was tight.So I ask him again when he is headed out the door. Hey man, is today payday, or did some things get changed up?He tells me that as of that week, they are delaying pay for a week as a new policy. So where before I would get paid for the week of work I had performed the friday at the end of that particular week. Where as of this particular moment in time I asked, he had changed the policy to us getting paid the week after we actually worked. So right there not getting paid, nor would I be getting paid for the previous weeks.So that put a huge damper on my weekend. Then jump to this friday. Im thinking. hell yeah, payday. It should be a nice paycheck, since I didnt get shit last week. I go into work, the boss sticks around for a bit before promptly heading out. So I shoot him a text hoping to get his attention before he got home. which is only 15 min from the store I dont hear back from him for an hour or so. He tells me to come back in when hes there and hell write me a check. It has been like this since I started working.Before he was my employer he was my friend, and this has been a tough lesson on not doing business with friends. So I get that.But Im not entirely sure what to do. I am looking for a new job, and hate that hes forced me to leave. But theyve asked me to come in today because they wont be in the store, and this starts the 4th week of, I suppose, technical slavery.Ive talked to him, and I would assume he doesnt like being asked about money. I know I wouldnt want my employees feeling like they had to ask me in order to get paid. But Ive told him, that I show up on time, and he expects that, why would I not expect to get paid.I also think he may be having cash flow problems. I did the math on the store, and they arent doing bad, but they dont have a huge amount that they are clearing each month. I took this job initially because Im a nerd, and its a comiccollectable shop. But also I quit my 9-5 to pursue a documentary film Ive been working on. I knew quitting a more steady job to pursue my dreams or what have you, would strap me a bit for cash, but that is why I wanted an easy hourly job to have a it of income.tl;dr: Started working for a friend, hes been paying me under the table, no written agreements, hes supposed to pay me every friday, but starting today at 3:00 PM I will official start my 4th week without pay. What to do? Assistant: Cash flow problems for sure. And cash flow problems for a niche retail store usually mean that the end is near. What your boss is doing is basically stealing your wages. Human: So, assuming its cash flow, and me being friends before an employee, and knowing they just had a baby and what not, and knowing their money might be kind of tight. How do I get them to pay me, when the money straight up may not be there? Aside from starting to kick knees in.  <response>: My advice would be to tell them you are owed 3 weeks in back pay, ask when youll be paid, and then in the same convo ask if you should be looking for a new job. If youre really friends - that last bit should force them to either fess up about the situation, or if the business isnt struggling realize that theyve been ignoring payroll and get you paid. 