Are there any laws regarding late paychecks, and if so, what are they?

I have worked as a server at a restaurant for a year now. We are supposed to be paid on the 1st and the 15th of the month. As the year has passed (when I started it was a new business, so this has been from the beginning) the paychecks have gotten later and later. Usually I have enough in my bank account to pay rent even though my check may be late….but for many people who work there they are relying on their paycheck on the 1st of each month to tie things together and pay their rent with.

At the beginning, checks were on time. As months passed, they started being one day late, two days late, or they would be at the restaurant but the owner hadn’t signed them yet, or he would have them on him rather than in the building available to people when they wanted to pick them up. Now, our paycheck that was due on the 15th, I received mine three days late, and it was dated 2/19! I couldn’t even have cashed it that day if I wanted to, already three days late. My boyfriend, who works with me, did not receive his until a week later. Preposterous. Because I had surgery at the beginning of the month and had 2 weeks off, I am really stretching funds to make rent this month. I need my paycheck tomorrow to pay my rent. I am almost 100% sure it will not be available til, probably judging by past checks, Monday at the earliest. There is always some kind of excuse. Is there anything that can be done about this? I’m worried about it. I’ve also just been wondering about this issue for a while now. Thanks guys.