A previous employer decided to get 100% of employees donating to United Way. They hounded everyone and even gave bonus checks to top executives who otherwise refused to donate. Just to tick the box I donated the absolute minimum which I think was fifty cents a paycheck. I figured their administrative overhead was high enough that was a net loss or nearly so.

How does an employer have the right to do something like that?

I don't know and it always makes me angry, but I have had this happen to me too. I guess its good publicity for them.