Department of Labor. Overtime Protection

Today the Department of Labor announced a proposed rule that would extend overtime protections to nearly 5 million white collar workers within the first year of its implementation.  Failure to update the overtime regulations has left an exception to overtime eligibility originally meant for highly-compensated executive, administrative, and professional employees now applying to workers earning as little as $23,660 a year.  For example, a convenience store manager, fast food assistant manager, or some office workers may be expected to work 50 or 60 hours a week or more, making less than the poverty level for a family of four, and not receive a dime of overtime pay.  Today's proposed regulation is a critical first step toward ensuring that hard-working Americans are compensated fairly and have a chance to get ahead.