Ugh. I remember what it was like the first time the 2000-era dotcom I was at missed payroll. A co-worker and I had taken the day off to take our kids to the state fair, and found our money wasn't where we thought it would be. They announced the payroll shortfall the day it happened, in company email we didn't read because we were off that day.

Kinda sucked.

I've alerted firms that missed payroll of the law violation via a couriered legal notice from a labor lawyer. I got my money when nobody else did.