Burlison introduces the Overtime Pay Flexibility Act
WASHINGTON– Today, Congressman Eric Burlison (R-MO-07) introduced the Overtime Pay Flexibility Act, which will prevent a newly proposed rule from the Biden Administration entitled Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees from taking effect.
“It’s essential that we support American companies and workers and protect them from the unnecessary federal government mandates. The Biden Administration’s policies continually stifle growth with its “one-size-fits all” approach. The Overtime Pay Flexibility Act would ensure that businesses can manage overtime compensation in a way that benefits both the business and employees,” said Rep. Burlison.
“When the government wages a war against American businesses, it inevitably hurts workers. Democrats love to sell a dream to workers, but in the end their agenda against the free market only harms the people they claim so vocally to support.”
BACKGROUND:
The Biden Administration’s Department of Labor (DOL) proposed rule entitled Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees imposes significant regulatory compliance burdens and higher costs on businesses while also limiting workplace flexibility for employees. The proposed rule, if finalized, would increase the salary threshold from approximately $35K to $55K annually under which employers are compelled to pay time-and-a-half for working more than 40 hours per week, under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
In 2019 the DOL under President Trump appropriately finalized a rule in which the salary threshold was raised, but only after extensive buy-in from stakeholders. A new rule coming less than four years after the prior increase is unnecessary and irresponsible and will lead to harm felt by millions of American workers and businesses.