"I hate to inform you, the next pay period will not be until July 11th at 1 p.m."
They came for a paycheck but they walked away with nothing.
Employees at Shipman Family Home Care were greeted with an unwelcome notice. They would not be receiving their paycheck.
State law requires "every employer pay every employee all wages."
But the law also says "an employer may withhold an employee's wages for cash shortages."
They are required to tell you seven days in advance in writing but for Shipman's employees, that didn't happen.
"Where's the explanation?" asks one employee.
"If I file unemployment? My rent is due today. What is unemployment going to do for me? Nothing," said Roderick Foust, employee, Shipman Family Home Care.
"It's reasonable, and it's the law." Marilyn Baird of the North Carolina Worker's Rights Center says this isn't the first time Shipman has been late to pay.
Federal auditors investigated Shipman's business in 2011 and say North Carolina should not have paid the facility because they didn't meet federal and state requirements for two years.
In a statement released to WFMY, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said, "N.C. DHHS reviews to date have determined that Shipman Family Care Home owes the state Medicaid agency repayments totaling $2 million. DHHS had attempted to take action placing Shipman on pre-payment review status to ensure services were provided in accordance with Medicaid rules before payment. Shipman's attorney obtained a court order against additional review of claims before payment. DHHS is complying with the court order."
"I believe she is going to layoff. She hasn't formally come out and said it, but this is what she's saying. You know who can wait? And basically this letter says if you can't wait until the 11th then go to the unemployment office... but that's a joke," said Baird.
Bonita Williams has worked for Shipman for eight years.
"I'd be glad to stick around but I just can't. I got bills to pay. I come up here to get a check I don't have one so what am I going to do? Keep on waiting?" asks Williams.
"It's appalling, I don't understand why we can't get paid," said Foust.
Some workers say they will wait it out.
"It's really not all about the money. It's taking care of people," said Katie Ruffin, employee, Shipman Family Home Care.
Shipman's workers spend their days in the homes of the sick and frail. Today none of them know if they have a job tomorrow.
Related: Home Care Business Under Investigation