THE LABOR DEPARTMENT PROPOSED A NEW RULE TODAY — THAT THE DEPARTMENT SAYS WOULD MAKE 3-POINT-6 MILLION MORE AMERICANS ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME PAY.
THE RULE WOULD ALLOW SALARIED EMPLOYEES WHO MAKES LESS THAN 55-THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME.
THAT WOULD BE A RAISE FROM THE CURRENT THRESHOLD OF JUST OVER 35-THOUSAND — 500 DOLLARS.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION RAISED THE THRESHOLD FROM JUST OVER 23-THOUSAND — 600 DOLLARS BACK IN 20-19.
IN A STATEMENT — ACTING LABOR SECRETARY JULIE SU SAID QUOTE ” A CORNERSTONE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTRY IS THE RIGHT TO A 40-HOUR WORKWEEK, THE PROMISE THAT YOU GET TO GO HOME AFTER 40 HOURS OR YOU GET HIGHER PAY FOR EACH EXTRA HOUR THAT YOU SPEND LABORING AWAY FROM YOUR LOVED ONES.”
“I’VE HEARD FROM WORKERS AGAIN AND AGAIN ABOUT WORKING LONG HOURS, FOR NO EXTRA PAY, ALL WHILE EARNING LOW SALARIES THAT DON’T COME ANYWHERE CLOSE TO COMPENSATING THEM FOR THEIR SACRIFICES.”
THE RULE PROPOSAL IS LIKELY TO RECEIVE PUSHBACK FROM BUSINESS GROUPS — WHICH MOUNTED A SUCCESSFUL LEGAL CHALLENGE AGAINST A SIMILAR PROPOSED REGULATION PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED AS VICE PRESIDENT DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.
IT ALSO MAY RUN AFOUL OF SOME LIBERAL LAWMAKERS AND UNIONS WHO HAVE PUSHED FOR AN EVEN HIGHER THRESHOLD.