If a company ever struggles to fulfill payroll, it’s already dead in the water. Labor is the single most important resource for every single company, and is a cost that can (and should) be budgeted for well in advance. Plus, many states have steep penalties for failing to pay on time, so even shitty companies make sure they have enough cash to make payroll.

You probably could have taken them for a ride when they failed to pay you on time. My state allows for triple your average daily wage per day that you go unpaid.