Austin company looking to dock paychecks for those receiving stimulus checks
Source: KXAN-TV, Austin, TX
AUSTIN (KXAN) Mar 27, 2020 / 07:07 PM CDT While Congress was working out the details on a bill that would provide Americans with stimulus checks, at least one Austin company was looking for ways to save payroll.
The form says they are preemptively deducting funds from our paychecks. That number is based on what theyre anticipating the government relief fund to be, a worker for the company told KXAN. The worker asked not to be identified in this investigation so as not to impact his companys ability to continue doing business. The worker asked not to be identified in the report, but provided KXAN a copy of the paycheck reduction letter his company emailed out on March 25, 2020.
The worker said his company emailed a form titled Employee Acknowledgement of Government Assistance Pay Reduction to some staffers on Wednesday. In response to the economic crisis that is affecting all of us due to the coronavirus pandemic
(company name redacted) are hereby enacting the Employee Emergency Compensation Fund, the letter stated.
The agreement would put workers under a temporary compensation reduction that is in line with the assistance that it receives from the federal government related to the COVID-19 pandemic. By signing the agreement, the companys employees would have their paychecks between April 6 and April 20 cut by 100% of any money received under the stimulus bill. The company would also take half of the $500 stipend allotted for dependents under the bill.
Read more: https://www.kxan.com/news/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-for-those-receiving-stimulus-checks/
I don't know what to say. Is there some kind of Evil University that Trump and his ilk attend?
Freddie
(9,232 posts)I hope they are reporting this to their state labor board.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)If true, It needs to be reported to every applicable regulatory agency and every media outlet as soon as possible.
Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)by issuing one of his infamous "opinions" that says it's kosher to dock pay.
BumRushDaShow
(127,314 posts)as soon as the funds become available. So that would be double-dipping.
Igel
(35,197 posts)If they pay less, you'd think less would be paid.
Cattledog
(5,897 posts)johnthewoodworker
(694 posts)jimfields33
(15,473 posts)apnu
(8,722 posts)From the article: "The worker asked not to be identified in this investigation so as not to impact his companys ability to continue doing business. The worker asked not to be identified in the report..."
Both the company and the worker fear economic retaliation for their obvious wage theft. These government checks are tax advances that citizens have to pay back on their next tax reporting year (2019 or 2020, depending on when they reported last.)
ck4829
(34,977 posts)DENVERPOPS
(8,679 posts)the repubs are doing to the nation's debt.....A trillion here, a trillion there and pretty soon you're talking real money......LOL
After the Repugs being the fiscal hawks forever, wasn't it Cheney who started selling the idea that DEFICITS ARE A GOOD THING!!!!!
My Republican father and all his friends would roll over in their graves if they saw this contemptious group of NUEVO Repugs.....
LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(12,539 posts)Then he has to hold the check in front of the camera like a first-grader during Show-and-Tell.
sinkingfeeling
(51,279 posts)Lonestarblue
(9,880 posts)Whatever company this is needs to be called out so others can decide whether to keep patronizing this business when life returns to normal.
groundloop
(11,488 posts)That companies employees are between a rock and a hard place thanks to the greed of owners.
Javaman
(62,442 posts)And tell them what you think of their illegal practices. They need to be held accountable for their actions
Sunriser13
(612 posts)The damn letter was sent out before the relief bill even passed!
I just can't believe the cruelty and greed displayed by an action like this.
apnu
(8,722 posts)The worker fears reprisal from the company, and or the company being destroyed, economically, because they know this is evil.
From the article "The worker asked not to be identified in this investigation so as not to impact his companys ability to continue doing business. The worker asked not to be identified in the report..."
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)As soon as possible, I'd be moving on unless they rethink this. Of course, if they rethink this, they'll just come back with a 20% or so reduction, figuring over 4 months that's about what the stimulus check works out to.
I suppose it comes down to whether most employees think their employer is acting in their best interest, or the owners.
CaptYossarian
(6,448 posts)I've had asbestos dumped on me, was cut to half-time the day before qualifying for profit sharing, and was cut three days before benefits kicked in--so I've seen it all.
To address that final sentence, my favorite boss once asked a colleague if he "went to prick school". (They have a large alumni.)
Sunriser13
(612 posts)Not only under "normal" law, but I'm quite sure there's something further in the relief bill just passed to prevent shit like this. Hell, this letter was sent out before the motherfucker even passed!!!
The article mentions that this is a national company. In my humble opinion, they should be put out of business.
Arggggggh!!!!
johnthewoodworker
(694 posts)GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)Government assistance can not be considered pay and having someone work for 0 pay would violate federal labor law. No company that has lawyers would do this.
Without more details, including the company name I am filing this the don't believe everything you are told cabinet.
getagrip_already
(14,250 posts)We all have to be detectives with this stuff. You can't believe a thing you see especially if it's something you are somewhat prone to believing.
Bots use this tactic to get followers on twitter, and launch subtle attacks once they have eyeballs.
Sapient Donkey
(1,568 posts)But then again, I won't be too surprised if it turns out to be true.
SKKY
(11,772 posts)...sounds like the kind of fight hed be up for. I dont see how this is legal.
LittleGirl
(8,261 posts)What a greedy company. Please report here when the company is named and shamed!
turbinetree
(24,632 posts)and the only "hope" is the Fair Labor Standards Act, but since there is another psychopath over at the Department of Labor, don't hold your breath...........................
Hotler
(11,353 posts)of labor might want to have a talk with the asshole that own that company. If you win the lotto is the asshole going to suspend your paycheck?
marble falls
(56,359 posts)Dawson Leery
(19,348 posts)The company needs to be outed.
iluvtennis
(19,758 posts)underpants
(182,279 posts)I've worked at both public and private sector companies that have had policies stating that if you are selected for jury duty you either sign over the check to them or they deduct it from your pay. I think jury duty is $80 a day. It's been a while since I had to do that. Not only does seem just cheap and ill spirited but from a cost accounting stand point I don't see what they get out of it. Depositing a check may not fully cost that but there is a cost that can be assigned to it. Even someone in HR doing a one time deduction costs something. But hey, it was the policy.
aggiesal
(8,864 posts)what you are explaining is a benefit that companies offer.
Ive worked for companies that gave you your full days pay without having to use vacation or sick time or as its known today as Personal Time Off (PTO)
So if you spent a week on jury duty $75 bought you a full weeks pay without using PTO.
I thought that was an excellent benefit.
I dont believe thats what this company is doing.
The difference is that jury duty you where paid for services rendered doing a required public service for having a free and civil society.
This is money that the government is giving you for their screw up. No service rendered or provided.
underpants
(182,279 posts)As set by the General Assembly. That makes it even less cost effective for this policy.
BlueIdaho
(13,582 posts)Who are these assholes?
Sapient Donkey
(1,568 posts)I hope this turns out to be an elaborate hoax. I don't want to believe this evil mustache twirling stuff can actually be real.
dalton99a
(81,073 posts)marble falls
(56,359 posts)Sunriser13
(612 posts)You can see the letter "t" at the end of the blacked-out name at the beginning of the second paragraph.
Also, the wording in the last sentence of the first paragraph would lead one to infer that payday is on Mondays, which might narrow it down quite a bit.
Back to the Houstonians to speculate...
dalton99a
(81,073 posts)Sunriser13
(612 posts)The forums are just moving so fast I can't keep up.
I'm so sorry!
Should I self-delete?
dalton99a
(81,073 posts)It's the nature of online forums
howardmappel
(80 posts)we need to find out the name of the company, find alternate employment for the employees and kill the company. I realize finding the alternate employment will not be easy, but killing the company may deter other assholes from doing the same. After all, it will be the invisible hand of the free market.
End Of The Road
(1,397 posts)It was ImageNet Consulting, based in Oklahoma City but with a branch in Austin.
Update can be found on kxan.com
LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(12,539 posts)No matter how this turns out, the company's reputation is screwed.
GeorgiaPeanut
(360 posts)and has no heart and no soul.
Progressive Jones
(6,011 posts)spontaneously burst into flames."