For the past multiple months, my employer has given me my paycheck a week or more later than the date we are to be paid. I am currently waiting for my check that was supposed to be issued 10 days ago, and the next pay date is supposed to be in 6 days.
I keep getting told that there isn't enough money in the account for payroll, and I sent out an email to the owners today asking about it but have got no reply.
I'm certain this company is going under. I have had my hours cut in half already, to ease some financial strain with the company, but am still not getting my check until a week or more after the actual pay date.
Can I stop working, and file for unemployment, on the grounds of being laid off due to the company not being financially able to pay me? I feel like, if they could at least reply and keep me posted on what's going on with my pay, I could maybe hang on longer while looking for another job (I have been searching for around 8 months now). But being ignored and not knowing when/if I'm going to be paid has me really worried.
Unemployment isn't much where I'm at, but it would at least help while I look for anything else.
TLDR; Owners of company I work for are not giving me my paycheck until a week or more after the actual pay date. Can I file for unemployment on the grounds of being laid off due to not getting paid/financial instability in the company, or would this be counted as me quitting?