X marks the spot where Twitter's severance math doesn't add up

A group of former Australian Twitter employees are reportedly being asked to return oversized severance checks seemingly because their ex-employer doesn't understand how to convert currency.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported X's demands yesterday, saying that letters had been sent to "at least" six former Twitter staff members, with one reportedly being overpaid by as much as AU$70,000 ($46.6k, £36.5k). All of the details were shared with the paper anonymously.

The Herald, which said it was able to view a copy of the letters sent to the former employees, reported that the payments were related to deferred cash compensation – a scheme that sets aside a payout for when a vested employee either leaves or retires. In this case, Twitter employees were awarded shares in the company when they joined to be paid out at their departure. Some of the employees being asked to repay the money were reportedly fired more than 18 months ago.

It appears that an incorrect currency conversion between US dollars and Australian dollars was performed, paying out in one case more than 2.5 times the actual value of the shares. Famously broke X could use every penny it can get right now, so sorry, former employees who've had that cash in some cases for more than a year.

"We would be grateful if you could arrange the repayment to us … at your earliest convenience," the Herald reported the letters as politely requesting. Failure to do so would allegedly lead to legal action for the recovery of the money with interest.

None of the employees have complied with X's request, according to the report. The Register asked X to verify the claims, but didn't hear back. We haven't been able to otherwise independently verify the news.

Given X's relationship with money and its bills since Musk took over, the move might not be outside the realm of possibility.

X and Australia: A rocky history

Australia and Elon Musk's Twitter/X have butted heads a number of times since the billionaire acquired the company in late 2022.

Australian officials raised concerns last year that Twitter's multiple rounds of layoffs could leave it in a tenuous position in which it's unable to meet the requirements of Australia's Online Safety Act. Not long after raising those concerns, the Australian eSafety Commissioner filed an official motion asking Twitter to explain the rise in hate speech on its platform.

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X's responses to the government have only prompted more back-and-forth between the pair, eventually leading late last year to Australia's Digital Industry Group (DIGI) revoking X's signature from its anti-disinformation code. DIGI said in November that changes to X left users unable to report misinformation and breached the misinformation code, and that X refused to cooperate to address the complaint.

Australian officials also sued X earlier this year after the platform refused to take down video of a knife attack on a clergyman in Australia. Musk called the request an assault on free speech, and last week Australia's eSafety commissioner dropped the charges.

Whether the government will get involved in this latest X-related kerfuffle isn't clear, but lawyers who spoke to the Herald said that Australian laws don't have any provisions in place to prevent X from suing its former employees.

X didn't respond to questions for this story. ®