If being without a paycheck isn’t disheartening enough, perhaps some demeaning advice from the Trump administration for all those furloughed workers can add salt to the wound. This isn’t a joke, it’s actually a top from the Office of Personnel Management, “offer to do painting or carpentry for your landlord in lieu of rent.” Workers in the most powerful government in the world are now reduced to bartering.
Trump Administration tweets out advice to furloughed federal workers who can’t afford to pay their bills. Among the tips: Offer to do painting or carpentry for your landlord in lieu of rent. https://t.co/xAJTI0Nea4
— Bill Weir (@BillWeirCNN) December 28, 2018
What happened to Mexico paying for the wall? Looks like it’s being dropped on the backs of U.S. government workers. Workers who apparently can afford a “personal attorney,” but can’t afford their rent.
The government also recommends contacting your mortgage company or landlord and haggle. They even included are sample letters to creditors you’ll soon need to write, one letter recommendation reads in part:
I am a Federal employee who has recently been furloughed due to a lack of funding of my agency. Because of this, my income has been severely cut and I am unable to pay the entire cost of my mortgage, along with my other expenses.
The recommended letter goes on to say, “I will contact you immediately to work out a plan to take care of the reduced payments.” So who thinks it will be this easy?
You’re insulting everyone w/ this crap!! Painters & carpenters are highly skilled. My family can’t paint our out of our mortgage. But when I find our personal attorney, I’ll ask him for advice!
— JA in Texas (@joanneintexas) December 28, 2018
Heard at foreclosure hearing:
Judge: Can you pay your mortgage in full today?
Fed Employee: No, I am out of work due to the shutdown.
Judge: Foreclosure granted. Sale date set.
Fed Employee: Can I paint the bank’s offices instead?
Raucous laughter erupts in courtroom…— Barry Rothman (@BarryARothman) December 28, 2018