Some companies are more evil than others.
Some will lie repeatedly to even avoid paying out a settlement.
In America you have no rights, your lucky if you get paid on time. Even then the actual process to get your back owed wages usually isn't worth the effort.
I worked for a clown once who waited 30 days to tell me he only pays every 60 days.
A friend of mine wasted a full week training, and the employer decided they didn't need him and didn't pay for the training.
If you DARE try and go the legal route you'll find you can basically beg for a settlement, but your employer can just say no.
Going to court isn't going to be worth it since the system is heavily stacked against you.
Actually not paying earned wages is one of the few things that has a lot of teeth around it. Federal rules typically award back pay and an equal amount as liquidated damages, plus attorney's fees and court costs, and states may add penalties of their own.
does this still apply as a contractor and not employee?
I don't know but probably not. A contractor may have other remedies such as filing a lien on assets.
That's the other game a lot of employers play, they'll classify you as a 1099 to avoid those pesky worker rights.
You have no other options because you need the money.
My friend who wasn't paid at all was told by a lawyer it wasn't worth pursuing.
So much of our legal system, and really society is based off gentlemen agreements. You don't still someone out of 600$ in wages because you don't do that.
When that gentlemen agreement is broken, realistically no lawyer is going to open a case over 600$, you have no real recourse.
I hope i dont have to find out, but it seems like anything in the US that requires lawyers would by default be an expensive option to pursue (from my lack of knowledge standing, at least, feels like that)