Your overtime pay is in jeopardy.

[mesue]

I should not watch the news I guess, here is a link to where MSNBC is reporting on how the Department of Labor is working with employers to learn how to NOT pay overtime wages.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3882629/

[BeanieLuvR]

I think that is terrible. :( I got a call(recorded) from the union yesterday telling about it. They are sending a packet in the mail on ways to try to keep this from happening. Although it won`t effect my family personally you better believe I will do whatever it says to do. I urge everyone else take action too. We have to make our voices heard.

[JENNIFERCATLADY]

Is this part of Bush's plan to hire more ILLEGAL immigrants?

[jonette5]

Yep "good ole Bush" just another one of his tactics to help the rich get richer and the working class more into debt, or out of work or in bankruptcy (sp?). I have been following this story for quite some time now and to hear Bush talk you think it only affects the top exec. in a company...WRONG...it is going to affect nurses, firemen, policemen and tons of folks in those type of jobs as well as middle managment.
I can't wait to cast my vote against this idiot in Nov. No telling how much damage he can do to the working class before then though.

[okie]

If i read correctly this looks like the Dept. of Labor is behind all this.Maybe Bush is innocent on this one,not that i like him anymore.This pisses me off because we all work our butts off to support our families and then they try and pull this crap.Next they will be trying to take all our benefits and our rights away.

[schsa]

What you will see is a backlash of people who will not work overtime and those people are in essential jobs. In many cases it is cheaper to pay overtime than it is to hire someone else to do the job. And just because the standards have changed doesn't mean that companies will stop paying overtime. They will have to provide some sort of compensation for those who do work beyond a 40 hour work week.

[joey74]

The compensation they will provide most likely is time off. If my husband stays over an extra hour one week, then the next week he can take one of those days off WITHOUT PAY. That is not "compensating" him for his time; not in my opinion.
This will be a hard blow, especially on labor workers. And as for companies not wanting to hire additional workers to make up for that time~~ They will find a loop hole, they always do. If they hire the workers as suplimental or temps they don't have to offer insurance or any other benefits, hell they don't even have to pay them the same wage! Big companys hit the jackpot on this one and everyone else is going to get screwed!
jmo

[aneisu]

Originally posted by schsa
They will have to provide some sort of compensation for those who do work beyond a 40 hour work week.

If you're over the threshold they don't have to give any compensation. To make employee's work overtime they can threaten to fire you - in this economy there a lots of people willing to work overtime just to have a job.

[AngelGrim]

<----Sadly shakes her head thinking of all the people out there trying to get ahead and can't and now have this to think about too.:(

[mesue]

If you scroll down to the bottom of the article you will see this is going to affect more low income families who are already struggling and certainly don't have a voice in D.C..

[momfromTN]

Originally posted by mesue
If you scroll down to the bottom of the article you will see this is going to affect more low income families who are already struggling and certainly don't have a voice in D.C..

What happened to all the bleeding heart liberal democrats who are supposed to be doing for the "little man"? They have not all disappeared, have they? I am being sarcastic, but EVERYONE has a voice in Washington. That is why we elect representatives. If a person doesn't vote, they cannot gripe about it.

[mesue]

Originally posted by momfromTN
What happened to all the bleeding heart liberal democrats who are supposed to be doing for the "little man"? They have not all disappeared, have they? I am being sarcastic, but EVERYONE has a voice in Washington. That is why we elect representatives. If a person doesn't vote, they cannot gripe about it.

Well you are right where are they but one thing for sure what we have in power right now is certainly not for the so call "little man". Currently we have a republican president and republican controlled congress and senate as they the republicans are in the majority so basically those bleeding heart liberal democrats are outnumbered and outvoted. Also are you saying the low income people did not vote so therefore if they get screwed royally its ok?

[momfromTN]

Originally posted by mesue
Also are you saying the low income people did not vote so therefore if they get screwed royally its ok?

Of course not. I am saying PEOPLE who don't vote have no right to gripe. Income has nothing to do with voting. Voting is FREE. And I never said low income people getting screwed is ok by ANY means. It is not okay for ANYONE, rich or poor, to get screwed. Please don't twist words. I am not rich by ANY means, mesue. In fact, for 2003, I am fairly certain our income for the year is under $25,000. I will not know for sure until we get our W-2s, etc. That is not high income. And while all democrats are not liberal, all republicans are not scum either. Some people seem to go out of thier way to dis George Bush and blame him for EVERYTHING wrong in the country. Have you ever considered past administrations might have something to do with some things too? Bush is not perfect, but he is a whole lot better than Gore would have been. JMO.

[mesue]

Originally posted by momfromTN
Of course not. I am saying PEOPLE who don't vote have no right to gripe. Income has nothing to do with voting. Voting is FREE. And I never said low income people getting screwed is ok by ANY means. It is not okay for ANYONE, rich or poor, to get screwed. Please don't twist words. I am not rich by ANY means, mesue. In fact, for 2003, I am fairly certain our income for the year is under $25,000. I will not know for sure until we get our W-2s, etc. That is not high income. And while all democrats are not liberal, all republicans are not scum either. Some people seem to go out of thier way to dis George Bush and blame him for EVERYTHING wrong in the country. Have you ever considered past administrations might have something to do with some things too? Bush is not perfect, but he is a whole lot better than Gore would have been. JMO.


Your right voting is free and I feel as you do everyone should vote, (even those darn republicans LOL joking) Being that you are not rich you should be very angry about this since this is going to affect your family and my family greatly, also. I personally get really po'ed when a government agency that is supported by my tax dollars uses those tax dollars to help the employers keep from paying overtime, thus hurting the so called little man. Unlike you though I feel the better choice was Gore. And yes I know that not all republicans are scum truthfully I feel that all politicians are whores pandering for our vote and could care less about most of us once they get that, but for me if I have to choose the best of the lot I would vote democrat. Whether you like it or not Bush's entire career has been voting for big business and this is just one more example of what is happening as a result of his being president. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer and no I don't see how previous administrations has anything to do with this, please tell how they are responsible for it,this rests on Bush's shoulders, it is his administration doing this.

[silvermist]

I think Al Gore would have been a better choice than Bush as well and wouldn't be supporting and helping the rich get richer. Of course this won't be effecting Bush and his pay so... Just will make the rich love him more so I guess that's all that really matters to him is having more influential people with him.

Alot of people get payed low enough and even with overtime don't make enough to support themselves. Like say some corporation like Macdonalds or something who's pay is so low that even with overtime it would be less pay than I would be making in 30 hours with their 40+. People having to slave away to make enough just to live and than now having to deal with overtime being taken away if it happens?

[Technologist]

Now people are complaining that the US Government is revising and updating a law that has been in place "unchanged" since 1938???

EDITED TO ADD...

Currently, an employer does not have to pay overtime to anyone that makes more than the threshold (The current threshold is $8,060 per year).

The new threshold will be raised to $22,100!!!

It means that if you made more than $8060 before and got overtime, you probably still will!!!.

AND You say this is a bad thing????

[mesue]

Read the entire article, this is not helping anyone, they are teaching employers, how to NOT pay overtime wages, the fact that they have increased the threshhold does not mean it is helping anyone especially when they are teaching them how to Not pay overtime wages, if it is important to you read the entire article and decide for yourself before you make up your mind that I'm wrong.

[okie]

Let me make sure i have this right.With the new plan,as long as my husband makes more than $22,100 he will still get paid overtime.

[mesue]

If people were not going to lose their overtime pay in some cases then why would the dept of labor waste their time working with employers to teach them how to NOT pay overtime. Before you make up your mind on this read the entire article, if someone can post it here I would greatly appreciate it as I am computer illiterate on some things. TIA

[mesue]

If you would like to sign a petition against this here is a link
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/otlastchance

[okie]

I signed it and i'm forwarding the link to a few people.

[momfromTN]

Originally posted by silvermist
I think Al Gore would have been a better choice than Bush as well and wouldn't be supporting and helping the rich get richer. Of course this won't be effecting Bush and his pay so... Just will make the rich love him more so I guess that's all that really matters to him is having more influential people with him.

Alot of people get payed low enough and even with overtime don't make enough to support themselves. Like say some corporation like Macdonalds or something who's pay is so low that even with overtime it would be less pay than I would be making in 30 hours with their 40+. People having to slave away to make enough just to live and than now having to deal with overtime being taken away if it happens?


Oh yes, AL Gore would have. I don't see HIM giving all his money away. Clinton and Gore and other dems are rich too, yet I don't see them putting their money where their mouth is. If I were rich, I would do what I could to keep my money. Why should the rich pay more across the board, just because they have money? That sounds like communisim or socialism to me.

[Hillbilly]

My hubby is a concrete finisher and works out of the union hall.This has been news for several months now and it sucks! I also can't wait until november so I can cast my vote against Georgie.And even if we are SOL and he wins again,at least I will be able to say I tried.

[joey74]

I am not sure what the information about the
"threshold" is all about. I do know from experience that anyone who works over forty hours a week is entitled to time and a half. The only exceptions to this is if they are salary workers who are management. I don't know maybe it is just in my state? You can't walk into a business around here without seeing minimum wage/overtime posters issued by the dept. of labor; that state the above.
So NO, this is not a good thing, at least not in my area.

[flute]

Originally posted by okie
Next they will be trying to take all our benefits and our rights away.

LOL u mean u get benefits? LOL, funny. I wish we did, we have to pay for ours, dearly (compared to before). UGHN, it's just not fun :(

[Technologist]

Sorry I took so long to get back (been working (salaried!!)).

Anyway, DOL is JUST showing that overtime doesn't HAVE to be paid.... they aren't changing rules, there are just pointing out existing rules.

Regarding the threshold; it was $8,060 per year and is going to be changed to $22,100. What this simply means is that IF YOU MADE $8060, then your employer was NOT REQUIRED to pay overtime!!!

And NOW, after the rule change, IF YOU MAKE $22,100, then your employer WILL NOT REQUIRED to pay overtime!!!

The point here is that MOST employers ignore the threshold.... THEY PAY OVERTIME, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU MAKE. SO this is a non-issue...

The only people that are making an issue out of this are those with ulterior motives.... the UNIONS (they justify their existence, by crying wolf, then solving NON-problems) and the Anti-Repubs (they claim how it will hurt them, ignoring that it hasn't hurt them before)...

[okie]

Originally posted by flute
LOL u mean u get benefits? LOL, funny. I wish we did, we have to pay for ours, dearly (compared to before). UGHN, it's just not fun :(

We have to pay for our health insurance which is not cheap and it goes up $5-$10 every year.

[momfromTN]

Originally posted by Technologist
Sorry I took so long to get back (been working (salaried!!)).

Anyway, DOL is JUST showing that overtime doesn't HAVE to be paid.... they aren't changing rules, there are just pointing out existing rules.

Regarding the threshold; it was $8,060 per year and is going to be changed to $22,100. What this simply means is that IF YOU MADE $8060, then your employer was NOT REQUIRED to pay overtime!!!

And NOW, after the rule change, IF YOU MAKE $22,100, then your employer WILL NOT REQUIRED to pay overtime!!!

The point here is that MOST employers ignore the threshold.... THEY PAY OVERTIME, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU MAKE. SO this is a non-issue...

The only people that are making an issue out of this are those with ulterior motives.... the UNIONS (they justify their existence, by crying wolf, then solving NON-problems) and the Anti-Repubs (they claim how it will hurt them, ignoring that it hasn't hurt them before)...

Thank you Tech. It also give the Anti-Bush militants something to teeth on. It gets really old, really fast and they are grasping at straws. YAAAAWWWWN!!!:rolleyes: :o

[freeby4me]

All im going to say is no matter what president (Dem or Rep) they could somehow go about getting some things changed. I find it completely outragous that the biggest largest companies and factories paid less in taxes for 2003 than my DH and he only made 18,000 for 3 people. If you're rich, you should pay. If you're poor, you should pay. Why make it so complicated?

[stresseater]

I find it completely outragous that the biggest largest companies and factories paid less in taxes for 2003 than my DH and he only made 18,000 for 3 people.
I would like to see some documentation of that. I go to I W O N political board a lot and this is claim that even the leftest of the left on that board hasn't even made.(believe me those people can find documentation on all kinds of fake stuff) ;) I find it hard to believe if there was a single word in print to support this it would have been healdine news over there. It's not like they have a whole lot of real ammo. LOL:D :D ;)

[mesue]

Think what you want but the fact that the Department of Labor which is supported by our tax dollar is currently working with employers to teach them how to use the existing laws to NOT pay overtime pay to workers, you can bet the Dept. of Labor is not going to be wasting their time doing this if their not going to be some people losing overtime pay; this is not really a dem. or rep. issue its an issue that affects your paycheck no matter who you vote for. I'm a democrat but if there was a democratic president in office right now I'd be just as upset about it.