We are pleased that the president is directing the Department of Labor to update overtime regulations, a policy change that I have previously proposed. About 10 million workers could benefit from a rule that makes clear that anyone earning less than $50,000 a year is not exempt from overtime requirements and must be paid time-and-a-half for any work they do past 40 hours a week. An updated overtime rule will not only help employees who work hard get ahead, it will also provide a boost to the economy by putting money into the pockets of workers who are likely to spend it. There is not one easy fix to the decades of stagnant wages in America, but revising outdated overtime rules is an important first step. It is time to raise America’s pay.
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