It’s not sneaky. In 2008 they offered the same deals. They are telegraphing that “the next few months are going to suck a lot.” They offer ways to avoid the suck.
I did a BTV round with 3 passengers and 15 employees were working the gate area. Agents and ramp. I asked why so many people since the terminal was empty and the employees told me there’s some state law that says JB can’t force them to take time off. I never followed up I just know employees were literally just hanging out in chairs with nothing to do.