<prompt> Human: First off, Im trying to avoid doing anything illegal.Ive worked for a new, small company for December, racking up about 40 hours. We decided as a group that nobody was going to get any money from the company until January so we didnt have any tax liability. I was going to get a lump sum in the beginning of January labeled as a Signing Bonus to make up for the amount I earned in December. It turns out that bonuses are paid Taxed Withheld at a higher rate than regular hourly pay. The sum Im owed is about 3500. This company is small and they are flexible on how its paid. How can I best get that money while still paying the legal amount of taxes on it? Assistant: Well they probably already broke some labor laws by not paying you in December. Human: While throwing out arbitrary BS like this can be really fun, how about you dont do it without providing some sources or experiences. Thanks.  <response>: Not that commenter, but wow, that was snotty of you. Yes, employers have to pay employees in a timely manner for working. You dont say what state youre in, so its impossible to give specifics, butall states with the exception of Alabama and South Carolina mandate weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, or monthly payments. Additionally, most states require employers to provide notice of payday requirements to their employees. 