Some struggling Chinese companies are turning to an unconventional funding source: their own employees.

Take HNA Group, for instance. A Chinese conglomerate with involvement in diverse industries from real estate to aviation, HNA Group has taken on roughly $90 billion in debt after spending immoderately to buy shares in multinational companies like Deutsche Bank (DB  ) and Hilton Hotels Worldwide Holdings (HLT  ). Investors are worried that HNA will not be able to meet its debt obligations, and the company's borrowing costs have spiked on the global bond market lately. Indeed, HNA recently missed some of its bills, including aircraft lease payments. Multiple public companies in the HNA ecosystem, including Hainan Airlines Holding Co., Bohai Capital Holding Co., and Tianjin Tianhai Investment Co. Ltd., have suspended trading of their stock, indicating that a major public announcement is on the way.

Chen Feng, HNA's chairman, has acknowledged that the company is struggling, citing a large number of mergers and a challenging economic environment. Feng noted that HNA is not alone, with rate hikes by the Federal Reserve and the process of deleveraging, or rapidly selling off assets to reduce debt, in China have caused difficulties for several companies.

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HNA has vowed to restore its financial health. To do so, it has used some traditional means, like selling off assets. But it has also directed a campaign to encourage direct investment by employees, offering "employee treasure" products with incentivizing return rates ranging from 8.5% to as much as 40%, depending upon the level of investment. Some of these offers include commissions if employees refer family and friends to invest in HNA. One arm of HNA stated in an email that it hopes to raise nearly $80 million directly from employees.

This is in addition to the loans HNA already obtains from employees and individual investors through its internet-lending platform, Jubaohui - which HNA has had trouble paying, too.

Feng is right that HNA is not alone amongst Chinese companies feeling the pinch lately. The Chinese government recently reprimanded a number of companies, including the Anbang Insurance Group, Fosun International, Dalian Wanda Group, as well as HNA Group, for spending beyond their means on growth. President Xi Jinping cautioned that flagrant spending can threaten the financial stability of the country overall. Some of these companies, much like HNA, are paying for their overconfidence now. After Dalian Wanda founder Wang Jianlin's boast to beat Disney (DIS  ) in China just a year ago, Dalian Wanda has now been humbled, selling off its developments at home and abroad. Anbang has run afoul of regulators, and some have raised eyebrows at Fosun's strategy, though the company seems to have fared better than its conglomerate peers.

This is not the first time that a Chinese company has used the practice of raising funds directly from workers. Wenzhou Liren Educational Group caused a stir in 2011 after it went bankrupt and could not pay back the almost $790 million it borrowed from its staff. Great Group, an online platform, similarly encouraged employees to buy investments after hitting a rough patch in 2015.

The practice is legal in China, provided regulations are adhered to, though generally considered a sign of desperation.