I have read this report perhaps a dozen times, attempting to find some hole in it, attempting to discover it was some kind of internet hoax. (It is not, video of the television report is at the link). According to the report, the informant asked to not be identified and asked that the company not be identified, out of fear. But the report passed the television station’s muster. The station got their hands on the letter.

One Austin Texas business has sent a form letter to employees informing them that the company would preemptively deduct the entire amount of the stimulus from the workers’ paychecks. It appears that the company is using the fact that it recently laid off one-quarter of its workforce as leverage against the remaining employees: “If you want your job, sign the check over.” (That is not the message in the letter, it is how I summarize the appearance of the situation).

In other words, the company wants the employees’ work, and their stimulus checks. I suppose when Trump is the president, and having made a living off stealing from others all his life … :

At least one company in Austin, Texas, is going to Scrooge McDuck-lengths to try and save on payroll amid the coronavirus pandemic after they sent a form to employees informing them that the company would preemptively deduct money from their paychecks based on how much they would receive from the stimulus package, KXAN reports.

“The form says they are preemptively deducting funds from our paychecks. That number is based on what they’re anticipating the government relief fund to be,” a worker for the company told the Austin TV station.

The letter informed employees that by signing the form, their paychecks would be cut by 100% of any money they received under the $2 trillion stimulus bill signed by President Donald Trump on Friday. The company said it would also deduct half of the $500 check sent to those with children and dependents.

Nice of the company to leave half of the money received for kids as dependents. I am going to be sick.

The one way to make it worse? The company assures its employees that the same process will happen should the government issue more stimulus checks in the future.

Texas is an “at-will” employment state, meaning the company can fire employees for any reason or no reason, so long as the termination isn’t due to gender, race, religion, sexuality or some other protected class. Thus, it appears to me (an attorney that hasn’t studied this) that the company wants to set-up a scenario whereby employees fear for their jobs if they do not sign the form, giving up the amount of their stimulus check, and the company then turns to say that the agreement was “voluntary.” A Texas labor law attorney interviewed in the report doubted its legality. (Thank God).

Nonetheless, if this is successful, this nation is screwed, and pitchforks and torches do need to be taken-up. I cannot believe a meeting was held where this was discussed and agreed upon as a “good idea.”

I wonder who the executives voted for, and to which campaign they might donate?

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Peace, y’all

Jason

[email protected] and on Twitter @MiciakZoom