That was one of the stupidest ideas I've ever heard of, why don't they just pay you all time, whether you're at work or at home? I think companies should also continue paying you for years after you've left them - after all you have a family to take care of and you can't possibly afford to miss several hundred pay checks.
I love it when something of mine get's published, not too long ago I had alot of stuff published in a Finnish Auto mag (I supplied alot of info for an artical on the Subaru 360 which was never sold in Finland) They gave me a copy as thanks, though I can't read it.