Statement by AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler on the overtime rule proposed by the Department of Labor:
New proposed overtime protections mark a victory for working people that will improve the lives of millions of families across America. The new rule ensures workers who make less than $55,068 automatically are eligible for overtime, and this threshold is indexed to wage growth going forward. This is one more example of the Biden administration delivering on its promises to prioritize the needs of working people. Denying overtime for workers earning over $35,568 a year is simply not acceptable, not fair and not reflective of the work employees do every day to go above and beyond. Employers who do not wish to pay additional overtime will now no longer be able to rely on unpaid overtime, and instead will have to reassess the way they distribute workloads to their employees. Employers instead could take the high road and hire additional staff or promote workers from part-time to full-time status. This allows working people the chance to spend more time with our families, and will give current employees the opportunity to have predictable schedules.
The fight for even stronger overtime protections and to raise wages for all working people is far from over. While today is a step forward, we know that millions of working people are putting in more than 40 hours per week without being fairly compensated. For too long, wages have not kept up with the cost of living, the federal minimum wage has remained criminally low, and the barriers to affordable housing and health care hold working people back from opportunity and advancement. Employers use loopholes in our flawed wage system to deny overtime pay to their employees. For millions of families across our country, access to overtime wages would make an enormous difference, and we will continue to advocate for fair pay for all.
Contact: Liz Vlock, 202-637-5018