A business owner’s foremost responsibility is to ensure his or her employees are paid – correctly and on time.

Donald Trump should know that.

But, either he’s so far away from the idea of cashing a paycheck before paying the rent, buying groceries or getting growing kids new shoes that he’s clueless or he simply doesn’t care about his 800,000 federal employees.

Of course, it’s an accusation that’s been hurled at him scores of times in the past. Remember the lawsuits from contractors in Atlantic City saying casino developer Trump stiffed them? And Labor Department citations saying he didn’t pay overtime or minimum wage?

The continuing shutdown of the federal government is a clear indicator of the kind of man Trump is. His shameful refusal to sign or even consider legislation to get furloughed workers back on their jobs and “essential” employees paid on schedule is just another sign that he is unfit to lead the country.

Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, meanwhile, are beyond enabling; they are complicit in Trump’s disregard for decency.

Trump’s demand for $5.7 billion of our taxpayer money for a wall that the American people don’t want should be played out, but not while holding federal employees hostage. Get the government back working first. Then, in Congress, the debate can continue to rage over whether it’s better to spend that enormous amount of money on a physical border between the United States and Mexico or on things like education, infrastructure and scientific research.

Trump’s “my way or the highway’’ approach cannot be abided.

It’s time for Republicans to grow consciences and do the right thing.

Submit letters to the editor and op-eds to jjletters@jjournal.com.