Expanded Overtime Wage Protection

Under a new United States Department of Labor (DOL) proposal to expand overtime wage protection, anyone making an annual salary of less than $50,440 automatically would be guaranteed overtime pay for hours worked over forty in a workweek. The overtime law requires covered employees to be paid time and one-half their regular rate for hours worked over forty in a workweek. This expanded overtime wage protection is a significant increase from the prior yearly salary threshold of $23,660, (which is equivalent to $455 per week). The $23,660 pay threshold for exclusion from overtime pay protection is less than the federal poverty line for a family of four. Under the proposal, workers making more than $50,440 annually, (which is the equivalent of $970 per week) would also still have to meet certain job duty requirements to be exempt from overtime pay.  You can view a U.S. Department of Labor video explaining the change.  This expanded overtime wage protection takes a significant step in curbing the abuse of salaried workers and limiting the exemption from overtime pay. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates an additional five million (5,000,000) workers will be entitled to overtime under the new rule, including convenience store managers, fast food managers, and some office workers.  If your employer or former employer failed to pay you overtime wages, call a wage attorney at Bober & Bober, P.A. at 800-995-9243 for a free consultation.