The U.S. Bureau of Labor announced salaried workers earning about $47,000 per year will be eligible for overtime pay beginning December 1. The prior level was roughly have that figure. Reaction was quick and negative from business groups and some politicians. But Dr. Robert Kraig is Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin and says contrary to what business and politicians are saying, these are productive workers not being paid for work they're doing...
".....these are workers working on average 47 hours per week but not being paid any overtime because the rule is so out of date. This means they will have more money in their pockets, more money to spend in the local communities.When I hear some of these businesses complaining about this they're only taking into account their costs. They're not taking into account their customers will have more money to spend...."
Kraig says an estimated 198,000 Wisconsin workers would qualify. Major business groups said the rules likely will mean less employment overall and less flexibility with employee time due to tighter working hours.
