New overtime laws

[TXlib]

I heard this morning on NPR that the administration projected that only ~100k employees would lose benefits under the new plan, while several million (IIRC, three million) would gain.

NPR also said that some economic institute (don't remember which one; any of you catch it?) claims that up to six million will lose benefits, while comparatively few will gain.

Anybody know more about this? What assumptions went into each side's predictions?

[Massacure]

1. I heard 1.3 million gain, 6 million lose

However several states have laws that override the federal ones.

[freetobegay]

2. Point of order here

State laws cannot override Federal laws.

[Massacure]

12. State law can be more "generous" than Federal law.

[freetobegay]

13. Yes they can be more generous

But they do not override, thats the difference.

[veteran_for_peace]

3. That is not true

Alot of what the overtime laws allow is to reclassify workers as professionals. These means that nurse could be a classified as a professional and no longer be eligible for overtime. Additional jobs include chefs, pharmacists, funeral directors, embalmers, journalists, insurance claims adjusters, low- and midlevel bank managers and dental hygienists.
For example, professional employees exempt from overtime had professional degrees. The new rule allows employers to substitute work experience and instruction

[kikiek]

5. I am a union nurse though so I am protected. Unions will be even more

important now. Time to organize people!

[AmerDem]

6. This may be the wake up call for people to

start organizing once again for unions.

[kikiek]

4. I heard yesterday the admin doesn't have a clue how it will ultimately

affect workers. It is likely that those close to the automatic ot pay cutoff will have their pay raised to just over it so their employer can exempt them from ot pay. Anyone over 100,000 yr will automatically be exempted (assuming the employer wishes to). Those in the middle it will depend on if the employer is able to classify them as professional which is very very loosely defined now. I would bet more lose than gain by far. Also you can bet the bottom dollar is going to business not the worker with this admin.

[Warpy]

7. This bunch Enrons all their numbers. Don't believe a single

number that comes out of their lying mouths.

Even the 6 million people losing overtime is a low estimate. The main proponents of this anti American horror of a bill were the healthcare industries, and they're targeting registered nurses.

Remember, anyone classified as a "professional" with advanced training is exempt, and that means journalists, IT people, nurses, pharmacists, and a whole host of other people the Repuglicans hope you don't find out about until it's too late and their Idiot is back in the White House.

SCREAM about this! Contact unions! ORGANIZE! And most of all, THROW THESE BASTARDS OUT OF OFFICE!

[Bettie]

9. Companies can stretch it to mean almost everyone

When I was working (I am now a full-time mom), I was an Administrative Assistant. Several of my old co-workers have been told that they are likely to be denied overtime due to the fact that they are "professionals".

Frankly, the only thing that allowed me to ever get away from that workplace was the fact that they had to pay overtime to keep me until all hours. The expectation for exempt people was that they would work a minimum of 60 hours a week, preferably much, much more.

Companies will be able to make the words mean whatever they need them to to avoid paying overtime to nearly everyone.

(Wait, is my cynicism showing?)

[PATRICK]

8. the "professional" con

has been used relentlessly to flatter workers into not having unions in the first place. But ball players and actors have unions. I wonder why?

Whenever you make so much dough that overtime becomes an extra benefit it still does not sway many pros from relinquishing "perks" which for the lower paid are cheap palliatives(like immediate cash bonuses or a pizza party) much less costly to the employer than compensated overtime.

When pros begin not to earn as much dough and suffer huge demands on their time the thrill of being professional wears very thin very fast.

This law is an incredible step beyond using pride to trick workers and institutionalizes injustice as building on an accepted lie. To think they won't keep moving the bar to reduce worker benefits and protections is to be a fool forever, a slave eventually.

[AlCzervik]

10. The report i saw said that anybody making over

somewhere around $22,100 wont be getting ot anymore.

[Fleshdancer]

11. can someone explain how some people will "gain" under this plan?

Is it because the employers will be forced to provide healthcare for all positions labeled "professional? I have no idea. :shrug:

[CaTeacher]

14. I don't know a lot about this.

I have talked to two people who will be impacted--both positively.

My sister--makes around 30K per year--lots of unpaid overtime--she is going to be taking in 40-45K now!!! She is very pleased!

My aunt (in Ohio) puts in less overtime--but is estimating that she is going to take in 5-6K per year more!

So--in my family it is a win win. But I would like to see how it is going for others before I rejoice.

[mtnester]

15. It depends on what type of job your family has

the dollar threshhold is NOT then end all..