WASHINGTON (June 14, 2016) — The U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing June 9 on the new Labor Department overtime pay regulations.
The hearing focused on the effects of the overtime pay rule on workers, student, non-profit organizations and small businesses. Testifying at the hearing were:
- Jared Bernstein, senior fellow, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities;
- Alexander J. Passantino, partner, Seyfarth Shaw L.L.P., Washington, D.C.;
- Michael Rounds, associate vice provost for Human Resource Management, University of Kansas; and
- Tina Sharby, chief human resources officer, Easter Seals, testifying on behalf of the Society for Human Resource Management.
Issued May 18, the overtime pay rule doubles the salary base at which salaried workers are entitled to receive time-and-a-half, to $47,776 from the previous $23,660.
Major industry groups — including the Tire Industry Association, the National Federation of Independent Business, the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Retail Federation — opposed the new rule, saying it would force small employers to demote current managers and assistant managers or stop hiring altogether.
However, Rep. Robert “Bobby” Scott, D-Va., ranking minority member on the Education & Workforce Committee, praised the overtime pay rule at the hearing.
“The Department of Labor took a long overdue step toward addressing the income inequality crisis facing our nation by restoring and strengthening overtime protections for millions of Americans,” Rep. Scott was quoted as saying in a press release issued by the Automotive Service Association.
The ASA previously announced a webinar on the overtime pay rule for association members, to be held June 15 at 1 p.m. EDT. To register for the webinar or obtain more information, contact Holly Miller of the ASA Washington office at [email protected].