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Honest question: I still don't understand how the "federal workers must work during furlough" thing doesn't violate the 13th Amendment. What's the story there?
by geofft 8y ago
Honest question: I still don't understand how the "federal workers must work during furlough" thing doesn't violate the 13th Amendment. What's the story there?
- shhehebehdh 8y agoIt’s not that they literally must work. It’s that they can be fired for not showing up despite going without pay. Any private employer could also try this, although it’s questionable whether or how long people would put up with it. When the government is the employer, there’s some level of confidence that at least you’ll get paid in the future, whereas with a private employer once they stop paying on time they usually are going to continue to have trouble making payroll until they fold.
- UncleMeat 8y agoMilitary personnel have to work.
- jki275 8y agoJust to amplify, military personnel can be court martialed and sent to prison if they refuse to show up -- paid or unpaid.
- shhehebehdh 8y agoMilitary is an exception to all sorts of constitutional rights.
- 0xfeba 8y agoIIRC, at least in the private space, you are legally obligated to "regular" paychecks.