1,219. When to Pay Workers

185:3 If one gave a garment to a tailor to mend at a set price and the tailor returns it by day, he must pay him during the day. If the tailor returned it by night, he has the whole night to pay. However, so long as the tailor has the garment, even if the work is finished, the owner does not violate the prohibition against delaying wages. This is so even if the tailor has it for a number of days, and even if he notified him to come pick it up; so long as the garment has not yet been returned, the owner is not in violation.

185:4 One only violates the laws of not making someone wait to be paid and not letting the sun set with another's wages in his possession if the employee asked to be paid and the employer has the money with which to pay him. If the employee has not asked, or if the employer does not have the funds, then he is not in violation. Nevertheless, the righteous thing to do is to borrow the money necessary to pay the worker on time because he needs the money and is relying upon it.

Some have the practice not to pay workers until the final sum is calculated. If the workers ask the employer to advance them a small portion that they have certainly already earned, he does not violate if he does not comply. This is because it is established that this is the arrangement and the workers were contracted based on this understanding.