Private school boss refuses to pay employees for months at a time, leaving those without 2nd jobs scrambling for funds: 'I had to borrow money from my parents to get through October'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Oct 23, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

This boss kept missing payroll. Then his employees threatened to walk.

One of the key tenets of work is that you are compensated for it. It's one of the main reasons you show up every day. Hopefully, you're passionate about the mission as well, but let's be real. If it weren't for the cash, you would probably stop coming in. It's why it's called a job, and not volunteering. But some bosses fundamentally misunderstand this. They try to see how far they can stretch their workers before they break. Why? It's more profitable for the company. 

Beyond the fact of simply being paid, however, is the desire to be paid on time. This is almost as important as being paid at all. Because if you're waiting for a paycheck that seems to never come, that's just as good as having no money in your bank account. Because guess what? You probably don't. This is what happened to a group of employees at a private school, and they all had a lot to say about this. One worker in particular. 

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  • A check sits blank with a pen next to it.
    via Money Knack

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • After she quit her second job to focus on education, one worker relied on her paycheck more than ever before, which shouldn't have been a problem, since she was earning enough money. But her boss could never quite seem to make payroll on time. So she started thinking of other options. Read on for the story. 

  • My boss hasn't paid us for September, and I don't know what to do anymore.

    So I work in private education, and my boss still hasn't paid us for September. It's not even the first time. In previous years, he'd usually pay us around the 20th- 30th of the following month. I used to let it slide because I had a second job and didn't depend on that paycheck too heavily (yeah, I know... bad move).
    via u/reginaphalangethe2nd
  • But this year I decided to focus fully on education and quit my second job. My salary should be enough to live on ...except I currently have no money at all. I asked him last week when he's planning to pay us, and his response was literally:
    via u/reginaphalangethe2nd
  • "One of these days, why?" WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHY? He got me out of the blue so I just answered "Because I have bills to pay" Everyone else at work is upset too, but no one says anything. Most teachers there have second jobs, so I guess they can afford to wait.
    via u/reginaphalangethe2nd
  • Meanwhile, I can't pay my bills. I had to borrow money from my parents to get through October, so even if I get my September salary now, it's already gone. I honestly don't know how I'll make it through November if this keeps up.
    via u/reginaphalangethe2nd
  • Would it be okay if I told him something like, "Either you pay me or I'll start looking for another job"?. Next year he won't hire me again, but who cares. I can find other private schools. I will just ruin our current relationship and make the rest of the year a hell for me.
    via u/reginaphalangethe2nd
  • I'm scared that if I say something, he'll only pay me and not the others and then I'd feel guilty for not saying anything to my coworkers. But they don't confront him. Has anyone been in a similar situation? What should I do here?
    via u/reginaphalangethe2nd
  • EDIT: Thank you all very much. The labor inspection is something that will disrupt our working relationship, so I will need to look for a new job. So it is not my first choice. It is not possible for us all to go on strike together. Seventy percent are not in complete agreement with that.
    via u/reginaphalangethe2nd
  • So I spoke to a friend and he told me that he would have a position open for me at his restaurant whenever I needed it. This means that I will be changing industries, but I can return next year. I won't die.
    via u/reginaphalangethe2nd
  • So I decided to go and tell him that either he pays me immediately, or I'm leaving. He has no other choice. He'll pay me. But it's unfair to my other colleagues. He will pay only me. If he does it for this month and next month and then goes back to his old ways, I'm gone. I have a backup plan. Thank you all for your concern. You are absolutely right that it is my fault for putting up with it last year. If I had demanded it from the beginning, I wouldn't be here now.
    via u/reginaphalangethe2nd
  • I am 27 and have 3 years of work experience. Even now, I am still learning how manipulative employers can be. I wanted to believe that we are all professionals... Learned the hard way. I'll keep you updated, after our conversation tomorrow.
    via u/reginaphalangethe2nd
  • A person holds a check in their hands.
    via thapanee srisawat

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Commenters agreed that this was in dire need of fixing.

    dreaminginteal • 8h ago Time to have a chat with the local department of labor or equivalent.
    via u/dreaminginteal
  • ElderMillenialSage • 8h ago This is illegal in most places on Earth and is called wage theft. Document that shit and report him to a proper institution.
    via u/ElderMillenialSage
  • VampireQueen333 - 8h ago . Your coworkers who say nothing are cowards. Shame on them.
    via u/VampireQueen333
  • Finwolven 6h ago I have a rule: once is happenstance. Twice is suspicious. Three times is deliberate action. My pay can be late once, with explanations. Twice, I start looking at options. Three times, I'm gone.
    via u/Finwolven
  • The only real obligation your employer has towards you is paying you, in full and on time. If that is not the case, you aren't working, you're volunteering.
    via u/Finwolven
  • ChuckOfThelrish 8h ago I mean I'd expect it to continue around the 20th- 30th since that's what everyone has seemingly accepted. You should not be getting paid more than two weeks after any given week that you worked. You can absolutely call the labor board about this and file a wage claim.
    via u/ChuckOfThelrish
  • TimScheff. 7h ago If others are upset as well, take collective action - strike, work to rule, or just have at least a few people complain together. As soon as you are acting in concert, any retaliation is an unfair labor practice. If parents are easily upset, there's some leverage there.
    via u/TimScheff
  • Independent-You-6... 8h ago So, of the two jobs you chose to quit, you picked the one that had already established a track record of not paying employees on time?
    via u/Independent-You-6180
  • • Nice-Championship... 8h ago bosses like this are the worst. it's ridiculous. i've been in a similar situation and it's infuriating. no easy fix.
    via u/Nice-Championship888
  • Ricordis 6h ago The whole passage of him asking if he should say something and threaten to quit but also being afraif of losing the job: As I see it now you don't have a job but a workplace as slave. "Should I be paid, ask for payment and consider to take a job where I get paid?" What a weird mindset.
    via u/Ricordis
  • allmyfrndsrheathens · 6h ago • Don't tell him "either you pay me or I get another job", tell him "either you pay ALL OF US or we report you to the labour board or whatever governing body monitors these things. Let them know they need to do it asap or they will be on the hook for a sizeable amount of interest too.
    via u/allmyfrndsrheathens
  • TrickEye6408 · 5h ago . unionize? can't fire all the staff at once....strike
    via u/TrickEye6408
  • Farscape_rocked • 5h ago . Talk to other staff about it. If you make a fuss your boss isn't going to care, if everyone threatens to walk out then he's going to fix it.
    via u/Farscape_rocked
  • FH2actual 5h ago You stop working. If you are not paid you do not work. You look for other work that will pay you. Do you think your Boss isn't getting paid?
    via u/FH2actual
  • LightBulb704 • 5h ago Take a step back. If you read this written by someone else what would your advice be? Missing payroll is a sign of financial distress and mismanagement. You have a pattern of this. Has it gotten better or worse?
    via u/LightBulb704
  • DazzlingPotion · 5h ago Don't threaten to leave just START LOOKING and Go! Do NOT worry about whether or not he can find another teacher. That's on him. Also report him to the labor board or any equivalent you may have where you live.
    via u/DazzlingPotion
  • ReeveStodgers ⚫5h ago A quick google search suggests that you should talk to the Hellenic Labour Inspectorate anout how to proceed.
    via u/ReeveStodgers
  • MudSeparate1622 · 5h ago Everyone i know in the position eventually got left. holding a bag. The owner declares bankruptcy or something and never pays the owed fees banking on you being to in debt to take them to court. Just go somewhere else. Trust me, even if they "catch up" to their average behind monthly payments it is designed to always be your problem.
    via u/MudSeparate1622

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Payroll boss antiwork workplace-stories toxic-workplace job bosses work coworkers working reddit story toxic-boss workplace reddit thread bad bosses Reddit toxic-work-environment
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