[phphphphp]

“If you receive a late paycheck, California Labor Code 210 requires employers to pay a penalty of $100 for an initial violation.”

Severely is overselling it.

[dragonwriter]

Its $100 if it is both a first offense and not willful. For any willful or intentional delay, or a second or subsequent late paycheck regardless of willfulness, the penalty is $200 plus 25% of the payment that was due.

(And if any terminal paychecks are late, there are greater penalties – waiting time penalties equal to an average days pay for each day of delay up to 30 days – though I don’t recall if there is a wilfullness condition or modification to that.)

[icelancer]

The link I found undersells it, too. In some cases, the corporate veil can be pierced and executives can be made personally liable.

[icelancer]

That's for "not willful."