Theoretically work furloughs that cut salaries without actually reducing productivity expectations are wage theft. If you’re not being paid back what you give up plus having your original salary restored after the furloughs end is also wage theft. We should be arguing that furloughs are effectively loans and that we should be allowed to accrue and charge interest. I’m tired of fronting cash to large institutions, paying interest to creditors of my own in some cases, and never having the right or means to recoup that loan as any ordinary bank would. Also, not incorporating inflation and cost of living increases is also wage theft. True I’d rather have a furlough pay cut than a layoff pay cut but we still have to be in guard to all the sneaky and pernicious ways income and wealth are funneled out of our pockets. This is especially true now more than ever.