Posted on 09/18/2022 4:32:57 PM PDT by DFG
Automotive giant Honda has come under fire after it asked workers at one of its US factories to repay hundred of dollars in bonuses they received earlier this month, saying it overpaid many of the checks in error and now needs that extra money back.
The brazen reneging from the car manufacturer came on Tuesday, when staff at the Marysville Honda Motors Co. factory in Ohio - which employs thousands of workers - were sent a memo demanding they give back money from overpaid bonuses.
The amount of each overpayment is currently unclear, as it varies from person to person based on salary - but the bonuses in many cases amount to hundreds of dollars, and were dished out to thousands of workers at the Ohio plant.
After announcing the bonuses had been erroneously overpaid in the bulletin Tuesday, brass at the Japanese automaker wrote that workers would have just nine days to decide on how they will pay back the additional sums.
Staffers will have the option to deduct the money from future paychecks or bonuses, or pay the outstanding amount up front by cash or check.
Those who abstain from those options, the company said Tuesday, will have the excess deducted from their future bonuses by default.
Workers will have until September 22 to decide how to pay back the money - a hardship for many who are used to getting bonus payments and had not expected to give a portion back.
Some staffers at the plant - one of a dozen factories in the country that collectively produce over 5 million cars annually - have since questioned if the company is justified in collecting the overpayments, with one attorney saying Honda is justified in requesting the forced refunds.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
"Maybe I'll go to the movies......by myself!"
Who is their accountant? Wee Tu Hi ?
It’s a petty thing to do. Instead they should have kept their mouths shut and reduced next year’s bonus if it is indeed a mistake.
Or they got hacked.
“Those who abstain from those options, the company said Tuesday, will have the excess deducted from their future bonuses by default.”
Should have just done this for everyone and not said anything. Other than the bean counters who caused this mess, who would have known?
Sum Ting Wong.
If some people had been overpaid by outrageous amounts that were obviously an overpayment, that would be one thing. But a few hundred dollars (yes I know it adds up) is not worth what it will cost the company from a public relations and employee morale standpoint. The smart thing to do would be to just let it go. Next year, they could recoup the money by announcing that the bonuses would not be as generous as this year.
I still wonder what the CEO’s bonuses look like.
So...you believe Honda when they say they made an error?
Sticking it to the union.
I’ve seen it happen in the banking business. At the senior executive level.
This is a very bad sign for the company. The fact that this was likely reviewed at upper levels and they still didn't catch the error bodes poorly for them.
Sadly, I'm seeing this more and more in businesses. I'm appalled at the lack of attention to detail, especially in critical tasks. I've seen outlay authorizations with blatant errors approved by supervisors who clearly aren't looking at it or don't get it. The main reason I see for it is that companies have lost so much talent and have people in positions way above their abilities.
“I realize the computer chip shortage contributed to that, but there is also the factor of the dealers screwing people over on new car prices. That cannot help in the least.”
The local Acura dealership was asking $80,000 on a MDX Type S that was listed for $68,000. I always go for Acura’s top trim but that is way too much.
“I disagree that they should have to pay it back.”
They don’t have to pay it back.
My Dad was a computer programmer in payroll with General Electric way back when, and he loved to tell about one his programmer buddies accidently cutting a $1.000,000.00 paycheck for himself. Or was it one of his co-workers pulling a prank?
“This will likely end up in court”
Nope.
Where is Hunt Stevenson when you need him ?
It’s a tough one.
The bonus is basically a gift.
If it were overpayment of earned wages, they would certainly have a case, but to demand someone give back what was essentially a gift????
Bad move all around.
What’s the matter? Did the CEO’s neighbor get a much bigger yacht and the CEO simply must outdo it?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.