# Austin company looking to dock paychecks by amount of stimulus checks. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [March 28, 2020, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516 "2020-03-28T16:10:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516/1 "2020-03-28T16:10:33Z")
> **[Austin company looking to dock paychecks for those receiving stimulus checks](https://www.kxan.com/news/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-for-those-receiving-stimulus-checks/)** > > “I think that this violates at least one law that we know of out there,” Austin labor attorney Austin Kaplan told KXAN. > [@](#): > > 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 company’s 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. It sounds like the individual employees would have to agree to this, but how many people will risk angering their employer by not signing this, especially in the current economic environment? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516/2 "2020-03-28T16:13:19Z")
Obviously the title should say “amount of”, not “amount if”. Maybe a mod can fix it. (Why can’t we edit thread titles?) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516/3 "2020-03-28T16:17:37Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Obviously the title should say “amount of”, not “amount if”. Maybe a mod can fix it. (Why can’t we edit thread titles?) Fixed. You can’t edit thread titles because that is one of the awesome perks reserved for mods alone.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516/4 "2020-03-28T16:18:57Z")
While there might not be much in the way of legal remedies, I would strongly support public shaming for both the company brass in general and the specific individuals who decided on trying this. They could start by at least naming the company in question. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516/5 "2020-03-28T16:33:50Z")
Is the company going to renounce all the payroll tax credits, loss loans, and debt forbearance benefits for businesses that the bill provides for? Name 'em and shame 'em. They intend to screw over their employees anyway, why fear that they’d take reprisals. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516/6 "2020-03-28T16:57:05Z")
Assholes ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516/7 "2020-03-28T16:57:54Z")
They were very careful not to name the company. C’mon, you cowards, give it up! ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516/8 "2020-03-28T17:01:28Z")
And to “take” half the dependent stipend! Do employees get paid more if they have kids? What a bunch of greedy bastards! I hope that company gets royally hosed in a class action suit! ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516/9 "2020-03-28T17:02:09Z")
Why is this not outright wage theft? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516/10 "2020-03-28T17:09:51Z")
GM should start producing gibbets. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516/11 "2020-03-28T17:54:46Z")
Somebody had to take the crown as the greediest in this crisis. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516/12 "2020-03-28T18:13:04Z")
Did y’all catch this part? > [@](#): > > [Dickhead Company] reserves the right to alter this program at will and in its sole discretion if it deems it is necessary to sustain business operations including but not limited to: (a) changing the terms of the EECP at any time including during the Initial Term; and (b) extending the IEECP for subsequent two-week periods or until Board of Directors declares the state of emergeincy over. > > The EECP does not constitute a modification to an employment contract or the employee’s status as an at-will employee. No fucking way I’d sign that. No fucking way. I wanna know what company this is. They don’t deserve to do this out of the light of day. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516/13 "2020-03-28T21:14:29Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Name 'em and shame 'em. They intend to screw over their employees anyway, why fear that they’d take reprisals. If the company is named, the public reaction could very well put them out of business, which probably not what its employees want. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516/14 "2020-03-28T22:51:36Z")
How is this even legal? As someone mentioned above, isn’t this wage theft? If I won, say, a hundred bucks in the lottery, it’s not like my company could deduct that amount from my paycheck. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516/15 "2020-03-28T22:56:00Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > If the company is named, the public reaction could very well put them out of business, which probably not what its employees want. I disagree. What the employees don’t want is to be out of a job. I doubt many of them give fuck about the company at this point in time. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516/16 "2020-03-28T22:57:53Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > How is this even legal? As someone mentioned above, isn’t this wage theft? > > If I won, say, a hundred bucks in the lottery, it’s not like my company could deduct that amount from my paycheck. I’m guessing the company gets away with it by claiming that it’s “coincidental but not coincidental.” They are allowed to cut employee pay if employees agree. Employees are allowed to receive stimulus checks. They claim it’s coincidental, to avoid legal problems. But yes, a jerk thing for the company to do. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516/17 "2020-03-29T00:20:05Z")
I wouldn’t sign it! I worked at a civil engineering firm a hundred years ago. When I was hired, the manager and his henchpeople seemed delighted that I had previously worked for the State of Confusion Department of Transportation (ConTrans). I was an engineering technician. I met all the requirements, and I was hired. After being there about six months, the company began doing contracted work for ConTrans. More delight was expressed at my previous experience. One day, a form comes down from Corporate. We minions are to sign the form, agreeing to random drug testing. Everybody bitched and moaned, especially about the way the samples are collected. Nobody was happy, but everybody signed. Except me. I was told, “We have to do this, because we are working on ConTrans jobs now.” I said, “Bullshit. I worked for five years at ConTrans and NEVER had to agree to this!” I waited and waited. Nothing happened. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516/18 "2020-03-29T02:01:54Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > How is this even legal? As someone mentioned above, isn’t this wage theft? Wage theft is when they don’t pay you what they owe you for what you’ve already worked. If they notify you in advance of working that your pay will be going down, that’s just plain old at-will employment. It sucks, but so long as it doesn’t put anyone below the minimum wage (if any of these people aren’t exempt), I don’t know that it would be illegal. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516/19 "2020-03-29T04:04:04Z")
It sounds to me like this company is seeing the economy tank and is taking steps to save these employees’ jobs instead of laying them off. But for some reason people want their heads on pikes for doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516/20 "2020-03-29T04:38:25Z")
“The company would also take half of the $500 stipend allotted for dependents under the bill.” Regardless of any reduction in compensation the company might claim from a benefit given to the employee, deducting pay based upon what other individuals in the household make is unscrupulous and unsupported by any law. While a company in an “at will” state can fire employees at will or reduce salary and wages without notice, to do so under the above premise harkens back to the days of company towns and peonage. > [@UltraVires](#): > > It sounds to me like this company is seeing the economy tank and is taking steps to save these employees’ jobs instead of laying them off. But for some reason people want their heads on pikes for doing it. Yes, I’m sure the company has the interests and well-being of employees front and center of their decision. And invisible pink unicorns are flying through the sky as we speak consuming carbon dioxide and farting out sparkling rainbows. Stranger [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-by-amount-of-stimulus-checks/850516.md?page=2)