Answer: No, this is almost never a good idea.

The idea of getting a higher tree price may sound appealing, but there are serious risks to accepting such arrangements, and this kind of offer should be a red flag to any planter. A company that cannot afford to pay you regularly throughout the season likely lacks the financial security to guarantee your wages. If a contract fails, the mill goes bankrupt, the company hits financial troubles, or the employer turns out to be a deadbeat, your pay can be gone with the wind.

This has happened a few times over the past few decades, mostly with smaller companies with limited experience in the industry. The idea of paying all at once at the end essentially allows an employer to use worker wages as their own operating funds through the season, and lets them avoid putting their own money on the line.

Some employers have been known to take out significant lines of credit or even extend mortgages on their house, just to ensure they can pay their workers without fail. While this does entail a risk to the employer, they stand to gain the larger financial reward in exchange for the risks they take in running a contract.

Different provinces have different laws regarding when workers must be paid.

British Columbia requires workers to be paid in full at least twice per month, with no pay period being more than 16 days, with all payment received within eight days of the end of the pay-period. This means that eight days after the contract ends, planters should be paid every cent of what they are owed, and should be paid regularly throughout their season.

Different rules can apply if a worker quits (full payment required within six days) or if a worker is fired (full payment within 48 hours)

In Alberta, pay requirements are less strict. Pay periods can be up to one month long, and wages only need to be paid in full within 10 days of the end of the pay period or within 31 days of the end of employment, whichever the employer chooses.

Some companies that operate in both BC and Alberta follow a consistent payment system in both provinces, which means that some Alberta employers may pay more promptly.

Larger employers tend to have deeper pockets, and can generally ensure proper payment to their workers. Smaller employers offer many benefits, and should not be seen as more risky just because they operate on a lesser scale. However, workers should be wary of any suspicious offers, and put their own interests first if they are ever asked to delay payment.