Paying Employees

Like most of us, I am sure you work to make ends meet. And if not you personally, I guarantee someone in your household or immediate family does. And with that job comes receiving a pay check. But how often should you be getting paid according to the law?

This may come as a surprise, as many of us may not have considered how often we should be getting paid. We have gotten use to the standard bi-weekly or even monthly pay checks we receive. Yet we never really question how often we should receive them. Let alone if God said there is a right or wrong way to do it. Especially under certain conditions or circumstances.

Deuteronomy 24:14-15 KJVS

Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: [15] At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.

Pay attention to this. Verse fourteen lets us know that God is commanding us to abide by this so it is very important to HIM. And that this is also seen as an act of oppression toward a human being for not moving accordingly. Primarily and especially for one who is poor. And the colon at the end lets us know that the point is being explained further in verse fifteen. And applies need he or she be Israel or one of another nation. If you hire someone to do a job for you the same day, they should be paid the same day. Even to the point of not waiting until late at night to pay them.

Need you hire someone for a project for the day or if you have a business and have employees. Need it be short term or long term the same general law applies. The only clause I can find to be any form of exception would be if one may argue, well, they are not poor. As the scripture says, “an hired servant that be poor and needy.”Therefore, I may wait if we have an agreement and mutual understanding. Which is the only way I could wisely advise any one who is paying someone for a job need it be for a day, project or long term business. However, many people, especially our people in this day and age are poor and needy. Now, if someone is rich they may be able to afford to wait until the end of the week or month for example to get paid for their work and it more than likely won’t effect their livelihood but the poor cannot. I don’t have much saved away if any and live “paycheck to paycheck” I need the money now. But If you have an agreement or arrangement that both parties verbally agreed on, first and foremost in addition to one that can be put in writing, then one should not be in error. As the sin comes in verse fifteen, if this person is poor and complains about they did the work but were not paid the same day they did the work. Yet, it is seen as oppression even if they don’t complain. As they may not express it to you, a friend or coworker but in their heart they feel a type of way.

You may not be able to make your oppressor abide by this law. However, you can ensure you abide by it. Need it be family, friend, or stranger we can all keep this in mind when we hire someone for a project or work that needs to be done. And remember that clear and effective communication is the best policy.

Sirach 42:7 KJVA

Deliver all things in number and weight; and put all in writing that thou givest out, or receivest in.