Large Companies Asking Employees for PAC Donations

Tons of big corps do it, but yeah its borderline money laundering

I didn't realize it was a thing. It was brought up in a meeting this morning. They also mentioned a 'charitable match' which I had to throw out "A PAC is not a charity..." Probably should have just kept my mouth shut.

Well my industry is heavily regulated. So naturally they want to support politicians that are good for the industry. I just don't want them to drop this on me in a meeting.

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but why can't companies just remain apolitical?

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Because there are government mandates to practically every business in existence. Many of the businesses don't like all of or any of the mandates so they want political power to change them.

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Because there are government mandates to practically every business in existence. Many of the businesses don't like competition so they lobby to use the mandates to create advantages in the "marketplace".

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FIFY

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No idea, but why can't companies just remain apolitical?

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Because companies aren't affected by government at all!!!!!

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Why does a huge company with billions in profit need to ask their employees to donate to their political cause?

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Because corporate dollars can't be used to directly support candidates for federal offices. More simply, your large company can't make political contributions to candidates for Congress... it's illegal.

What is legal is creating a PAC connected to the company, which is funded by contributions from employees (and not corporate dollars), and then using the PAC dollars to support candidates for federal office.

PACs are also sometimes the only (or the preferred) legal vehicle to make contributions to candidates for state offices.

Your participation in the PAC is completely voluntary if you work for a corporation -- it's illegal for your company to force or try to coerce you into joining.

And the charity match (if you join the PAC, your company will match your voluntary contribution with corporate money directed toward a charity) is a somewhat common approach that companies use to help motivate employees to join the PAC. Nothing scandalous about that tactic.

I know a dude who made a sizeable donation to his company's PAC and got laid off 3 months later.

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FWIW, i don't see a problem with it. They aren't demanding or telling people "donate or your fired".

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Even if it's never said out loud, is it reasonable to wonder if non-participation affects your prospects?

If corporate dollars can't go to the PAC then how can they match my donation? And how can they legally refer to it as charitable?