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WASHINGTON,
D.C.
–
Lawmakers
in
the
Senate
and
House
today
introduced
the
Protecting
Workplace
Advancement
and
Opportunity
Act,
legislation
that
will
ensure
the
Department
of
Labor
pursues
a
balanced
and
responsible
approach
to
updating
federal
overtime
rules.
The
sponsors
of
the
legislation
–
members
of
the
Senate
Committee
on
Health,
Education,
Labor,
and
Pensions
and
the
House
Committee
on
Education
and
the
Workforce
–
released
the
following
statements
upon
introduction:
“The
Obama
administration's
decision
to
drastically
redefine
overtime
will
hurt
our
workforce
and
our
employers.
It
will
lead
to
reduced
hours,
confusion
for
job
creators,
and
will
limit
growth
opportunities
for
employees,"
said
Senator
Tim
Scott
(R-SC),
a
member
of
the
Senate
Labor
Committee.
“It
is
important
that
workplace
policies
address
the
needs
of
both
employees
and
employers.
The
Protecting
Workplace
Advancement
and
Opportunity
Act
stops
the
Department
of
Labor
from
irresponsibly
redefining
the
overtime
threshold
without
understanding
the
real
world
consequences.
It
will
also
require
them
to
start
over
and
ensure
that
any
new
regulation
on
overtime
considers
the
daily
impact
on
our
nation’s
economy.”
“In
the
21st
century
workplace,
we
need
to
encourage
policies
that
increase
flexibility,
reduce
regulatory
burdens,
and
create
more
opportunities
for
workers
to
pursue
their
dreams.
Our
nation’s
outdated
overtime
rules
are
in
need
of
modernization,
but
it
must
be
done
in
a
responsible
way
that
doesn’t
stifle
opportunities
for
working
families
to
get
ahead.
Unfortunately,
the
administration’s
overtime
proposal
fails
this
test
and
should
be
sent
back
to
the
drawing
board,”
said
House
Subcommittee
on
Workforce
Protections
Chairman
Tim
Walberg
(R-MI).
“This
mandate
on
employers
will
hurt
the
lowest
paid
American
workers
the
most,
by
reducing
their
opportunities
for
a
promotion
or
a
better
job
and
making
it
all
but
impossible
for
workers
to
negotiate
flexible
schedules,"
said
Senate
Health,
Education,
Labor,
and
Pensions
Chairman
Lamar
Alexander
(R-TN).
"In
just
one
example
of
the
dramatic
effect
it
will
have,
some
of
Tennessee’s
small
independent
colleges
are
expecting
it
to
cost
them
a
minimum
of
$1.3
million
each—a
giant
figure
that
may
cost
the
colleges’
students
in
tuition
hikes
and
cost
employees
in
job
cuts.”
“We
agree
federal
overtime
rules
need
to
be
changed
and
have
said
repeatedly
we
want
to
partner
with
the
department
in
a
serious
effort
to
streamline
and
modernize
overtime
protections,”
said
House
Committee
on
Education
and
the
Workforce
Chairman
John
Kline
(R-MN).
“Unfortunately,
the
department
is
pursuing
an
approach
that
will
stifle
workplace
flexibility,
make
it
harder
for
lower-income
Americans
to
move
up
the
economic
ladder,
and
do
nothing
to
provide
employers
more
clarity
and
certainty.
This
bill
will
guarantee
any
update
to
federal
overtime
rules
is
done
responsibly,
openly,
and
in
a
way
that
doesn’t
hold
back
those
working
hardest
to
get
ahead.”
Overview
In
2014,
the
Obama
administration
began
an
effort
to
update
the
rules
surrounding
federal
wage
and
hour
standards.
As
part
of
that
effort,
the
Department
of
Labor
released
a
proposal
that
would
more
than
double
the
salary
threshold
under
which
employees
qualify
for
overtime
pay.
Concerns
have
been
raised
that
the
department’s
proposed
rule
will
result
in
workers
having
less
flexibility
and
opportunity
for
advancement
in
the
workplace.
The
proposal
will
also
raise
costs
on
small
businesses,
while
doing
nothing
to
streamline
a
complex
and
outdated
maze
of
overtime
rules.
With
the
department
expected
to
release
a
final
rule
in
the
coming
months,
the
Protecting
Workplace
Advancement
and
Opportunity
Act
will:
- Prevent
the
department
from
finalizing
a
proposal
that
will
limit
opportunities
for
employees
and
place
significant
burdens
on
job
creators;
- Require
the
department
to
fully
and
accurately
consider
the
economic
impact
of
any
rule
on
small
businesses,
nonprofits,
institutions
of
higher
education,
and
others
who
will
be
affected;
- Ensure
future
changes
to
the
salary
threshold
accurately
reflect
the
economic
realities
facing
workers
and
employers
by
making
clear
automatic
increases
are
not
allowed
under
current
law;
and
- Promote
transparency
and
accountability
by
requiring
any
changes
to
the
duties
tests
be
made
available
for
public
review
and
comment.
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