Fiat Chrysler Automobiles accidentally overpaid its hourly workers by about $12 million while they were on layoff during the coronavirus plant shutdown.
Oops.
Now FCA is asking 24,000 employees who got an extra $500 or so to either pay it back or have it deducted from future paychecks.
The overpayments occurred because a federal coronavirus relief program retroactively increased the workers' government unemployment checks for the week ending April 4, taking their total compensation above the level FCA's contract with the UAW requires during a temporary layoff. Workers are supposed to receive 74 percent of their usual 40-hour pay, with FCA responsible for making up the difference between that amount and their weekly government unemployment payout.
Employees were given the choice of returning the overpayments either via lump sum or with a $100 payroll deduction per week. FCA spokeswoman Jodi Tinson told Automotive News that "many" had repaid the overage all at once, but she declined to give an exact number.
