Metal workers struggling to get overdue paychecks

SALT LAKE CITY — A desperate financial situation for dozens of construction industry workers in the Salt Lake Valley who suddenly didn’t get a paycheck.

Chris Bloore and Jared Pierce are just two of the employees at Forge Metal in West Jordan that didn’t get paid on Friday.

“There was no money. No paycheck,” said Bloore. “I don’t know (what is going on with the company) they haven’t told us.”

“No answers, none,” added Pierce, a supervisor with Forge. “I haven’t been paid for work that I’ve done, and I don’t know why I haven’t been paid for work that I’ve done.”

Instead, they got an email from the vice president of human resources on Friday afternoon with Q Factor, saying, “We regret to inform you that we were unable to process your payroll this week due to lack of resources. At this time, we do not have clarity on when this payroll will be processed we will inform you as soon as we are able to see a path forward.”

Forge Metal is one of a variety of companies paid under the same umbrella company located in Salt Lake City called Q Factor. According to its website, Q Factor takes “projects from conceptualization, to design, construction and property management.”

Bloore and Pierce say they wonder how they will make it through the month.

“I am angry I reached out for help from my mother-in-law,” said Bloore. “[But] at this point, it’s not about me. It’s about everybody that didn’t get paid.”

“For me, it’s pretty big. I have a brand new little boy. I have diapers and formula. I’m living paycheck to paycheck. Car payments, rent coming up,” added Pierce. “Just want some answers. Got lives. We have families. This is not the best way to do work.”

In a statement, Jason Winkler, the Co-founder and Chairman at Q Factor, told KSL TV that “folks will be paid in a short number of days. It’s unfortunate that we’ve had these cash flow issues. We communicated clearly and properly with all employees and did our very best. We are working to help find folks new jobs and wish them the very best.”

Winkler would not elaborate on how many employees and what caused the cash flow issues.

For Bloore and Pierce, it’s a matter of how long they can last without a paycheck.

“I’m going to keep working. They are going to have to pay us eventually,” said Bloore.