Entrepreneur claims to have found the fix for cash flow issues?

"Every single employee is required to take two 20lb bags of charcoal for the grill as part of their payroll," read the notice posted on the bulletin board at the Associated Press.

Article.

That's it. Honestly... probably the most painless way to handle a cash flow crisis where everyone actually walks away happy. The business owner settles his debts to the staff by providing supplies instead of cash, the company offsets what they owe by taking compensation in kind, and the workers end up with plenty of fuel for their backyard barbecues... quite practical, really.

Would you guys ever agree to an arrangement like that at your job? You know, where the company accepts goods to offset a debt, and then you receive those same goods as a portion of your paycheck?

Henry Morris3 said:"Every single employee is required to take two 20lb bags of charcoal for the grill as part of their payroll," read the notice posted on the bulletin board at the Associated Press.

Article.

That's it. Honestly... probably the most painless way to handle a cash flow crisis where everyone actually walks away happy. The business owner settles his debts to the staff by providing supplies instead of cash, the company offsets what they owe by taking compensation in kind, and the workers end up with plenty of fuel for their backyard barbecues... quite practical, really.

Would you guys ever agree to an arrangement like that at your job? You know, where the company accepts goods to offset a debt, and then you receive those same goods as a portion of your paycheck?

I mean, sure.
If they did that, I’d just take that extra cash straight to the IRS and settle all my utility bills once and for all.😁

Charles Lopez3 said:I mean, sure.
If they did that, I’d just take that extra cash straight to the IRS and settle all my utility bills once and for all.😁

But wait—what if Exelon actually owes *us* money for once?
Should we just try hooking ourselves up to a 220v line? 🙂
Or maybe just carry a few amps home in our pockets? 😂

Karen Doyle72 said:But wait—what if Exelon actually owes *us* money for once?
Should we just try hooking ourselves up to a 220v line? 🙂
Or maybe just carry a few amps home in our pockets? 😂

just hook those amps up to the Mayor and his crew 🤣

Who’s to blame if he isn't Ivica Todorić? I mean, why would anyone bother voting when they can just pay with Walmart vouchers instead?

There’s honestly no difference between those vouchers and a bag of charcoal for a BBQ.

Or they could just tear the whole printing press down brick by brick—literally, one single brick at a time!

northerntiger said:Who’s to blame if he isn't Ivica Todorić? I mean, why would anyone bother voting when they can just pay with Walmart vouchers instead?

There’s honestly no difference between those vouchers and a bag of charcoal for a BBQ.

I actually heard something similar from a buddy of mine who works over there. The places are always short on cash, so they just hand out Christmas gift cards instead. I think he got some $833 Christmas vouchers and ended up using them to pick up some electronics...

Between Christmas bonuses, Easter bonuses, and cost-of-living adjustments, we’re talking about real wages. Under American law, those checks need to be issued in cash—actual currency—subject to all the standard taxes and withholdings. Anything else is just shady business. But apparently, everyone just looks the other way when it comes to Ivica Todorić; he basically runs his own kingdom. I mean, he even handles utility payments right at the register in his Walmart stores. At this rate, he'll probably just open a full-blown Chase Bank branch right at the checkout counter. He can get away with anything. 🙂

northerntiger said:Between Christmas bonuses, Easter bonuses, and cost-of-living adjustments, we’re talking about real wages. Under American law, those checks need to be issued in cash—actual currency—subject to all the standard taxes and withholdings. Anything else is just shady business. But apparently, everyone just looks the other way when it comes to Ivica Todorić; he basically runs his own kingdom. I mean, he even handles utility payments right at the register in his Walmart stores. At this rate, he'll probably just open a full-blown Chase Bank branch right at the checkout counter. He can get away with anything. 🙂

man, he really thinks he's untouchable 🙂

Charles Lopez3 said:I mean, sure.
If they did that, I’d just take that extra cash straight to the IRS and settle all my utility bills once and for all.😁

Well, obviously you'll probably end up using that charcoal for a backyard BBQ. Or something along those lines...

Henry Morris3 said:Well, obviously you'll probably end up using that charcoal for a backyard BBQ. Or something along those lines...

vegetarian 😁

Charles Lopez3 said:vegetarian 😁

And then what? Zucchini, bell peppers, onions, button mushrooms, tomatoes, eggplant... you just throw all of that on the grill.

Henry Morris3 said:Well, obviously you'll probably end up using that charcoal for a backyard BBQ. Or something along those lines...

well, I could always find a way to make it useful—use it for something productive, for instance.
🙂
At this rate, an employee might as well just bring their dog to work and tie it to the machinery to do the heavy lifting since they're being paid in charcoal instead of actual cash.
Or maybe they'll hire a parrot as a secretary—though if the parrot ends up getting a permanent desk, don't come crying to me.

Henry Morris3 said:"Every single employee is required to take two 20lb bags of charcoal for the grill as part of their payroll," read the notice posted on the bulletin board at the Associated Press.

Article.

That's it. Honestly... probably the most painless way to handle a cash flow crisis where everyone actually walks away happy. The business owner settles his debts to the staff by providing supplies instead of cash, the company offsets what they owe by taking compensation in kind, and the workers end up with plenty of fuel for their backyard barbecues... quite practical, really.

Would you guys ever agree to an arrangement like that at your job? You know, where the company accepts goods to offset a debt, and then you receive those same goods as a portion of your paycheck?

Unless it’s something I actually need... I'm not interested in lugging random junk home just to pile it up in a corner without even knowing what to do with it. No thanks.

northerntiger said:Between Christmas bonuses, Easter bonuses, and cost-of-living adjustments, we’re talking about real wages. Under American law, those checks need to be issued in cash—actual currency—subject to all the standard taxes and withholdings. Anything else is just shady business. But apparently, everyone just looks the other way when it comes to Ivica Todorić; he basically runs his own kingdom. I mean, he even handles utility payments right at the register in his Walmart stores. At this rate, he'll probably just open a full-blown Chase Bank branch right at the checkout counter. He can get away with anything. 🙂

There isn't actually a legal requirement for mandatory Christmas or Easter bonuses. Those are considered discretionary perks, so they can be handed out however a company chooses, including gift cards or vouchers.

Base salary is a completely different story.

Henry Morris3 said:And then what? Zucchini, bell peppers, onions, button mushrooms, tomatoes, eggplant... you just throw all of that on the grill.

Yeah, absolutely.
Grilling is straight-up carcinogenic.
And you're the one paying the price!🤣

Nothing much to report here. Honestly, this is just more of the same—the kind of stuff "employers" in the US have been pulling since forever.

northerntiger said:Between Christmas bonuses, Easter bonuses, and cost-of-living adjustments, we’re talking about real wages. Under American law, those checks need to be issued in cash—actual currency—subject to all the standard taxes and withholdings. Anything else is just shady business. But apparently, everyone just looks the other way when it comes to Ivica Todorić; he basically runs his own kingdom. I mean, he even handles utility payments right at the register in his Walmart stores. At this rate, he'll probably just open a full-blown Chase Bank branch right at the checkout counter. He can get away with anything. 🙂

Under which specific laws are Christmas and Easter bonuses or vacation pay required to be paid in cash?

First off, regarding Christmas bonuses, vacation pay, and similar benefits, up to $833 per year (if I recall correctly, that's the current threshold, though it used to be $667) they are entirely tax-free. Second, these benefits aren't technically part of a base salary; unless a collective bargaining agreement or a similar legal document states otherwise, an employer is perfectly free to provide them via merchandise or gift vouchers. This particular situation has absolutely nothing to do with that.

One can certainly make many arguments against Ivica Todorić, but calling him "shady" in this instance is a stretch. In fact, one might actually have to credit him for providing Christmas and vacation pay when he wasn't legally obligated to do so at all.

northerntiger said:Between Christmas bonuses, Easter bonuses, and cost-of-living adjustments, we’re talking about real wages. Under American law, those checks need to be issued in cash—actual currency—subject to all the standard taxes and withholdings. Anything else is just shady business. But apparently, everyone just looks the other way when it comes to Ivica Todorić; he basically runs his own kingdom. I mean, he even handles utility payments right at the register in his Walmart stores. At this rate, he'll probably just open a full-blown Chase Bank branch right at the checkout counter. He can get away with anything. 🙂

If it were actually shady, he wouldn't be paying out the exact $833 tax-free portion required by law.

And as for why he handles payments... well, he's officially registered for fuel and petroleum distribution too.

Charles Lopez3 said:Yeah, absolutely.
Grilling is straight-up carcinogenic.
And you're the one paying the price!🤣

Everything is a carcinogen if you look hard enough. And I highly doubt you're living without a smartphone... so maybe dial back the selective hypochondria just a little bit.