A federal change in overtime pay for certain workers is likely to impact those in the service industry the most, and the Wisconsin Restaurant Association has come out against the proposal.
More salaried employees would be eligible for overtime pay — or they might have more free time as companies limit hours — under a rule change from the Obama administration that the president detailed Thursday.
Pete Hanson with the Wisconsin Restaurant Association predicted a lot of salaried supervisors would be moved to hourly positions, depriving them of gaining valuable managerial experience.
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“Labor budgets are very tight. There’s just not going to be automatic raises of $15,000 or $20,000 per year to everyone who is not making $50,000 per year. That’s just not realistic,” Hanson said.
Right now, salaried workers making more than about $24,000 are exempt from overtime benefits. Obama wants those making up to about $50,000 to be eligible for extra pay when they work more than 40 hours a week.
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