United States: President Obama wants to extend overtime pay beneficiaries

Barack Obama is going to ask the Department of Labor to review overtime pay in order to get more employees covered.  To that end, he wants to update the Labor Standards Act, which provides that only those paid $455 (€326) a week or less — or $23,600 (€17,000) a year – must receive overtime.  The goal is to further advance the middle class without going through Congress.  Indeed, with this ‘update,’ the President doesn’t need the consent of the Senate or House of Representatives.
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According to existing law, employees working more than 40 hours a week are paid 1.5 times more for each extra hour. But there are a lot of exceptions for “executives” and “professionals.” Fast food managers, computer technicians, bank managers… are supposed to work 50 hours a week, sometimes more, without a supplement. Overtime pay is only for people paid less than $455/week ($23,600/year).

The White House hasn’t explained the method yet. Change the definition of white collars who are exempt

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