Yes, I noticed it and knew this would happen as soon as we went to paying for work done instead of being advanced for work not yet performed.

Not really a d**k sandwich. You are going to be paid a portion in advance until the changeover and then you will be paid on the 1st for half your guarantee from the previous month...a month where you already got a portion paid. Essentially there would be a two week overlap of extra pay (to put it simply) that needs to be returned. They are opting to do it over a 6 month period according to the LOA vs taking it all out at once. You essentially pay back your advance now...all at once...in the middle of the next month.

Personally never liked getting paid in advance. Much prefer getting half my guarantee for the previous month on the 1st and then all the clean up from that previous month on the 16th.