Labor Dept gives advice on avoiding overtime

[CrownPrinceBandar]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3882629/

*snip*

The department's advice comes even as it touts the $895 million in increased wages that it says those workers would be guaranteed from the reforms.

Among the options for employers: cut workers' hourly wages and add the overtime to equal the original salary, or raise salaries to the new $22,100 annual threshold, making them ineligible

*snip*

New overtime regulations were proposed in March after employers complained they were being saddled with costly lawsuits filed by workers who claimed they were unfairly being denied overtime. But the regulations themselves have stirred controversy over how many workers would be stripped of their right to overtime pay.

The issue is being seized by Democrats in their attempt to win back Congress and the White House.

A final rule, revising the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act, is expected to be issued in March. The act defines the types of jobs that qualify workers for time-and-a-half if they work more than 40 hours a week.

Overtime pay for the 1.3 million low-income workers has been a selling tool for the Bush administration in trying to ease concerns in Congress about millions of higher-paid workers becoming ineligible.

But the Labor Department, in a summary of its plan published last March, suggests how employers can avoid paying overtime to those newly eligible low-income workers.

*snip*

[pfitz59]

1. Elaine Chao is one letter shy of Chaos!

Her labor policies are destined to bring strife and unrest! The clock is ticking!

[Gman]

2. I thought this was going to be killed in the Senate

I can't believe they gave millions of workers another good reason to go to the polls and vote Dem. But then, the millions of workers give huge bucks to the GOP either.

[kalian]

3. You know why....?

Because the repukes KNOW that the elections are rigged and ready.
You don't have Robertson stating that "god" has told him that shrub
will win in a landslide and you don't have the labor dept sec
telling corporations how to SCREW over the working masses.

As for unrest....Americans have forgotten how to FIGHT for their
rights. Americans are too LAZY to stand up to their masters...and
they know it. Let's see what happens...but I bet that NOTHING will
occur...people will shrug their shoulders and continue to whine.

[Tadah]

6. clinton passed NAFTA

so if they trust the democrats, there's a sucker born every moment...

[Yavin4]

16. You Forgot To Mention That He Passed NAFTA During A Boom

and we had a growing vibrant tech sector at the time.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

4. More work for less pay.

Isn't illegal, according to the article. But it is criminal.

*snip*

The department does not view the "payroll adjustment" option as a pay cut. Rather, it allows the employer to "maintain the pay at the current level" with the new overtime requirements, said the Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division administrator, Tammy McCutchen, an architect of the plan.

But McCutchen disagreed. If changes were made week to week to avoid overtime, they would be illegal. A one-time change is not, she said.

"We had a lot of lawyers look at this rule. We would not have put that in there if we thought it was illegal," she said.

"Unless you have a contract, there is no legal rule ... prohibiting an employer from either raising your salary or cutting your salary," she said, adding, "We do not anticipate employers will cut people's pay."


*snip*

[proud patriot]

5. Disgusting

:grr:

‘We're not saying anybody should do any of this.’


— Ed Frank
Labor Dept. spokesperson

[teach1st]

7. Sheesh! Those downtrodden employers....

"New overtime regulations were proposed in March after employers complained they were being saddled with costly lawsuits filed by workers who claimed they were unfairly being denied overtime."

WASHINGTON, IP (Imaginary Press), 12/15/04: The Labor Department today announced a stunning change in the nation's labor law. The Liberated Employers - Workers Death Act (LEWD) would free employers from damages caused by workers who are killed at their jobs. The changes came about after employers complained they were being saddled with costly lawsuits by families of workers who claimed the workers died because of unsafe conditions in their workplaces.

Dead workers could not be reached for comment.

[deacon]

8. they should change the name to anti-labor department n/t

[Jackpine Radical]

10. That's really unfair. The Bush Admin is very much pro-labor.

They're just opposed to paying for it.

[BuelahWitch]

21. They are pro-slave labor n/t

[area51]

23. or maybe change the name to "bosses' dept."

n/t

[snippy]

9. How very republican.

[shawn703]

11. This is one of those things that surprises me

Not because the Bush administration is doing it and thinks it's a good idea - but that they're actually coming out in the open and saying it. This is disgusting.

[Wink]

12. Business as usual.

Who here is surprised that the ultimate goal of this legislation was to screw the working stiffs? This administration just has no shame.

[Karenina]

13. UNBELIEVABLE!

.

[missile_bender]

14. It's the same bait and switch

It's the same bait and switch being used on the poor. Here are the increased benefits. Oops. You don't qualify.

The "Department of Labor" needs to change its name to the "Department of Business" because that is the contituency it services (generally on its knees.)

[abelenkpe]

15. So sad.

I am surprised that they would be so open about dictating ways to screw over workers. Our government is run by corporations for corporations. We need to elect public servants not corporate executives.

[salin]

17. back in Reagan two (mid eighties)

I had a friend whose wife was a lawyer for the Dept of Labor.

In design - the legal dept is to assist cases working on behalf of labor (hence the name: Dept of Labor) - but in those years ALL of their time was spent defending the Dept of Labor against lawsuits - due to their policies that worked against labor (and were often borderline legal). Looks like the bushies have revived yet another Reagan era legacy.

[54anickel]

18. Amazing. These were the types of arguments used against the

change, and their soothing response was nobody would do that. The supply/demand forces of the labor market wouldn't allow it.

Sheesh :eyes:

[moondust]

19. Can a Department of Outsourcing be far behind?

Corporations are going to need some help finding native populations willing to commit to long-term slavery.

What a bunch of dicks.

[rucky]

20. slaves slaves slaves slaves

[Oreegone]

22. Another NEW Bush Department

Lets see:
Anti-Labor
Anit-Education
Anti-Environment
Anti-National Security

It is too sad,,,Wake up America while you still have an America left.