6 million could lose overtime pay

[DaveSZ]

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/business/9158085.htm

Posted on Thu, Jul. 15, 2004

6 million could lose overtime pay

STUDY OF NEW FEDERAL RULES DISPUTES BUSH ADMINISTRATION FIGURE

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON - By Martin Crutsinger

Disputing Bush administration estimates, a liberal think tank said yesterday that new federal rules will remove overtime protections for at least 6 million U.S. workers.

The study by the Economic Policy Institute was released a day after three former Labor Department officials said in a report requested by the AFL-CIO that "large numbers" of employees entitled to overtime would no longer get it when the new rules take effect Aug. 23.

The Bush administration took issue with the findings. The department estimates that up to 107,000 high-income workers making $100,000 or more annually could lose overtime under the new rules, while 1.3 million low-wage workers who are denied overtime will become eligible.

On a party-line vote yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee rejected an amendment by Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., that would have prohibited any sections of the new rule that would reduce the number of workers eligible for overtime.

-more

[RummyTheDummy]

1. And half will still vote for BushCo.

Because they're lemmings. You would think this would matter to people. You would think.

[whistle]

2. Who earns $100K a year and is paid overtime?

...$100,000 / 2080 hours = $48.08 / hr so if these people go into overtime at 1.5 times their hourly rates they could make $72.12 per hour? Doing what? Anyone who is on a salary does not make overtime pay.

[lanparty]

3. The side effect is ...

... that when employers can work their employees 50 hrs without paying overtime, they'll stop hiring extra staff. There is no motivation to make new hires when you can drive you servants 60 hours at the same rate under threat of being fired.