4) The Chida (Ein Zoicher, Ma’areches 300, s.k. 21) quotes the sefer Zevech HaShlomim who is in doubt about the above, and he concludes: Since our workers don’t work all the way until nightfall, once it is shkia one already violates the prohibition, as is clear from the Rema (Choshen Mishpot 339), and on erev Shabbos since a worker isn’t allowed to work all the way until night, at the time that he leaves from the job one is obligated to pay him, and if he doesn’t get paid the employer violates the prohibition.
They bring from the Arizal that ביומו תתן שכרו is roshei teives שבת, and this hints to the fact that even if the time for payment is on Shabbos, there is still a din that one must pay on time, and one must pay on erev Shabbos.
However, the Chinuch (Mitzvah 588) writes: That if one didn’t pay on erev Shabbos because of Shabbos, he no longer violates the prohibition:דהואיל ואדחי אדחי וכיון שבזמן הפרעון פטור מלשלם – “as once it was pushed off, it remains pushed off, and since at the time of payment one couldn’t pay, he is now exempt and doesn’t violate בל תלין for not paying on time.”
The Sdei Chemed (Pe’as HaSadeh, Ma’areches 2, siman 26) speaks at length about this, and he says that according to the Chinuch and other opinions that hold that there is no בל תלין on Shabbos, we have to say that the roshei teives of ביומו ת תן ש כרו which stands for שבת, is coming to teach us, that since Shabbos is the time of payment, and one can’t pay then, there is no longer a violation of בל תלין.
In Ahavas Chesed (Perek 9) the Chofetz Chaim writes: On erev Shabbos where the minhag is to stop working some time before shkia, one should hurry and pay before shkia, if he was asked to pay and he has the money, and he can fulfil with this the mitzavh of ביומו תתן שכרו.
The Netziv Chesed writes: The Chinuch that says one doesn’t violate בל תלין, is talking about a case when one works until shkia, or when the employer doesn’t have money. See also Minchas Pitim (Choshen Mishpot 339).
However, the Sdei Chemed writes: It is illogical to say that they used to work all the way until shkia, and certainly they would stop some time before. Yet, the Chinuch still says there was no problem, therefore, it would seem that he held that on erev Shabbos there is no prohibition of בל תלין.
The halachah is that for a day worker one has the entire night to pay, and for a night worker one has the entire day. However, the Zevech HaShlomim is saying that this only applies if a day worker works the entire day, if however, he finishes before the end of the day, for example the halachic day ends at 6pm and he finished work at 4 pm, then the halachah is he has to be paid that day before 6pm.
