Bill to Kill Overtime Pay Passes House!

[Indyfan53]

Bill HR1406, the "comp time" bill, passes in the House of Representatives.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/08/politics/overtime-pay-passes-us-house?refid=0&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MPR_Politics+%28Politics+from+Minnesota+Public+Radio%29

The bill is expected to die in the senate, but this is why we need to take back the house in 2014!

If we lose the senate, say goodbye to your rights in the work place. Vote out the fascists in 2014!

[peacebird]

1. Comp time is fine IF you actually get to take it off... I find employers let it accrue, but

Very rarely let employees use it. And the the comp slate is wiped clean at the end of the year...

[yellowcanine]

3. Comp time is fine for salaried workers but bs for hourly workers.

Hourly workers should be paid an overtime increment for anything beyond 40 hours/week.

[enough]

11. This is the fact that keeps getting lost. Thanks for stating so clearly. (nt)

[CrispyQ]

39. And anything over 8 hours a day, imo.

When I was a union member, you got OT for hours over 8 per day, so even if you only worked 25 hours a week, if one of those days was a 9 hour day, you got an hour of OT.

[bravenak]

53. I did payroll. You are right. Most union contracts go by federal law on overtime.

Regular workers like me had to work 40 before getting overtime.
Unions also like to include Heath and welfare into contracts similar to a cost of living adjustment at a rate of 2 to 4 dollars an hour depending on the contract.
We need more unions and better pay.

[Sherman A1]

5. Precisely

It's not about "comp time" it's about stealing time from the working class because you will most likely be unable to use your accrued time. If it is so important for an hourly worker to stay beyond 8 hours a day or 40 in a week they should be paid time & a half overtime rate.

[CTyankee]

31. I've hears some salaried single mothers say they want the time more than the money.

But, of course, they ARE salaried...

[peacebird]

32. So am I, but while I can EARN comp, rarely am I allowed to USE it.....

It's a cynical ploy in a lot of cases.

[CTyankee]

33. Can you talk to your boss about this situation?

I mean, if the policy is comp time they should at least listen...

[Myrina]

38. It's a BS way to get 'free labor' ...

.... Comp time must be used by the end of the calendar year in most cases, and coincidentally, most of those companies also have a 'no vacation in December due to end-of-the-year closeouts/planning' policy.

In other words, thanks for the free labor.

[KM0201]

45. I work a TON of OT

frankly, I like being able to take Comp-Time. I've never had an issue with using it so long as I give proper notice (at least 3 days). I've taken 3 weeks of Comp-Time straight, and it wasn't an issue at all. (Edit: I do want to note, Comp-Time is optional.. if you want to get paid for your OT, then you get paid)

As for "use it or lose it".. anyone who believes that is fooling themselves. This would be illegal as hell, as you would essentially be working and not getting compensated. Labor boards would be all over this. If you have Comp-Time on the books at the end of the year, you are simply cut a check (I've had this come up before to). We max out at 96hrs Comp-Time, so it's not a ton of time anyway, but I've strung together some nice breaks at work with Comp-Time. It was also a nice thing to have when I got sick, because I had plenty 3 weeks of Comp-Time on the books, so I took it rather than using my sick time or vacation time.

While I know it has no chance of passing.. I'm glad it's available where I work, and I wouldn't change it.

[DesertFlower]

2. i used to take "comp time" in the summer

because i liked to go to the beach.

[mysuzuki2]

4. comp time is fine if it's the workers choice.

[Indyfan53]

8. Your employer can push you to take comp time instead of overtime.

This bill is an assault on our already diminished rights in the workplace.

[enough]

12. +1 (nt)

[October]

15. +1

[Freddie]

22. Not if you're hourly

With exceptions for government/public service workers.
If your employer tries to tell you otherwise, they are wrong.

[LiberalFighter]

24. They are wrong but employees would not understand their rights

to have it enforced properly.

[markiv]

30. or be intimidated from standing up for them

with vieled threats about 'the next layoff'

[KM0201]

46. I work in Government (hourly)

As I mentioned in my previous post, I work a lot of overtime. Quite a bit of it is mandatory, but it's not uncommon for me to work 65-80hrs a week. I've never one time been pressured to take comp-time vs getting paid. Usually when I work OT, if I want comp-time, I just fill out the appropriate form, and my time gets put "on the books".. otherwise, it's paid. We're allowed to do the same thing with paid holidays. We can either take the pay, or comp-time it.

[Indyfan53]

48. There is one problem with comp time.

You can't use it whenever you wish. You're boss may deny you time off because of a busy week, or keep you on call. And if you don't use your comp time by years end, do't you lose it?

[strategery blunder]

55. It's incredibly BAD policy to legislate labor law based upon the generousity of a single employer.

Labor laws (and for that matter, unions) exist because of the lowest-common-denominator stunts management would otherwise pull. Your employer has a policy of actually honoring comp time on a 72-hour demand--good for your employer! Unfortunately, that cannot be extrapolated to every workplace in the nation.

Now I want you to envision a workplace where comp time approval was at the discretion of the boss.

Employee: "You remember how you had me work a 70-hour week last month? Well, that's 30 hours over 40, time and a half for comp time makes 45, and I'd like to have a week off in July to take a family vacation..."
Boss: "In July we're gonna have 5 contracts to fill. No can do. Maybe I can slide it in during September?"

*July comes around, then ends*

Employee: "Four consecutive 70 hour weeks? I really need a vacation, man. Can I use 80 of my 225 hours of comp time in September to recharge the batteries? You told me back in May to try for September."
Boss: "But September is the height of the back-to-school season, and we need to keep our customers supplied! I can't do that! Maybe, maybe around Thanksgiving I can slide you a week..."

*Employee works 4 60-hour weeks in September, then on the first of October...*

Employee: "Hey boss, I'm burned out, I've racked up 345 hours of comp time now, can I look forward to using at least some of it in November?"
Boss: "But November is the start of the big holiday season! We need to keep the retailers supplied! I can't do that!"
Employee: *grumble mumble grr...* "ok, I guess..."

*The end of the year comes and goes. By 31 December, the employee has racked up almost 600 hours of comp time, none of which the boss actually honored. No check is forthcoming. After asking repeatedly for his expired comp time to be cashed out, the employee files a wage theft claim for 600 hours with his state wage-and-hour enforcement agency...but due to Republicans controlling the state legislature and cutting everything that isn't nailed down, the agency has no resources whatsoever to investigate and enforce the claim. It's estimated that the case backlog will take 5 years to clear, but every year more and more cases pile up.*

*The boss, however, is more than happy to fire the employee who deigned to try to stir trouble by trying to enforce the use of his comp time and replace him with some other unfortunate, desperate soul.*

Just because you have never had an issue with YOUR employer, does not mean that no one else ever will.

This is why labor laws (and unions) are necessary. Just as there are unscrupulous employees out there, so are there unscrupulous employers. Unions can give workers the leverage to hold employers to account in cases where the government cannot or will not enforce its own laws. Without unions, employees have very little leverage at all, especially in this economy when there are millions happy to take a disgruntled employee's place.

Even if comp time is properly cashed out at the end of the year, the time between the end of the pay period in which the overtime was worked and the end-of-year cashout still represents a significant interest-free loan from employees to employer.

[Indyfan53]

56. +1

[Purplehazed]

51. The bill in question...

Requires that unused comp time be paid at the end of the year. I believe it is earned at overtime rate.

[Indyfan53]

57. Independent studies say it's not guaranteed.

http://tndp.org/blog/2013/05/09/u-s-house-republican-majority-votes-to-axe-40-hour-work-week/

[barbtries]

6. you're so right.

we need to get these bastards out of power.

if only the media wasn't always carrying their water. it's so frustrating.

[n2doc]

7. 3 dem traitors voted for this bill

Peterson, Collin MN 7th
Cuellar, Henry TX 28th

Matheson, Jim UT 4th

Should all be primaried

[Indyfan53]

9. Or at least press them on the issue.

Tell them if the bill is up again and they vote the same way, we will replace them in the primaries.

[tblue]

10. Obama wouldn't dare sign it

I hope. Even he wouldn't reach across the aisle for that.

[John2]

19. He has already

said it is dead on arrival if it reaches him.

[formercia]

13. Self-Immolation

the political equivalent.

They forget that a lot of Republicans are working people that depend on overtime to make ends meet. They may not be the smartest Hammer in the Bag, but this miscalculation is one, even Joe the Plumber can figure out.

[davidthegnome]

14. What if it doesn't die in the senate?

Sadly, the republicans have no monopoly on fascism - as evidenced by the fact that three "democrats" supported this bill. Now perhaps there are enough real democrats in the senate to kill this thing, I hope there are, but I also wonder about who among the corporations want this bill to pass - and how much money they'll offer in "campaign financing" (it's not quite right to call it bribery...)

It's not just the house we need to take back - it's our own party as well. "House of Representatives"... house of useless old twits, is more like it.

[drm604]

28. The President has already said that he won't sign it.

And there's no way they'd have enough votes to override a veto.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

40. He said that he would veto.

Perhaps house Republicans are hoping the option to choose along with changes made by the Senate might sway the President's opinion.

BTW, how's it going?

[drm604]

54. I got a job in Philadelphia doing website development.

A 40 minute train commute morning and evening and less pay than my previous job, and I have to pay the city wage tax, and the train pass costs $155 a month and parking at the train station costs another $120. But it pays the bills until I can find something better.

Back to the subject at hand: I'm pretty confident that he'd veto this if it did somehow end up on his desk.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

59. Congrats on the work.

Me, too. It just seems like a distraction.

[Botany]

16. Wonderful!

Make them own that issue in 2014 and we might be able to flip the House.

[TNNurse]

17. Well

I cannot wait for one of those who voted for people to take time off rather than get overtime to be a hospital patient. "Sorry sir your nurse is not here...he or she was required to take time off rather than make overtime money by being here. Maybe someone will be by to see for your needs in a little while. Please do not have anything serious or life threatening go wrong."

[Lochloosa]

18. Overtime pay's original intent was to punish employers for working someone past 40 hrs.

It was meant to stop 10-12 hr days and give workers a "weekend".

[Presidentcokedupfratboy]

20. Why do these assholes keep doing this shit?

Why are they wasting the people's time passing bills they know will never amount to anything?

We have to take back the House in 2014.

[CTyankee]

34. Plus, it can be so easily used against them in the next election cycle.

It is a fairly straightforward issue if the rep. voted against paying people for work done. Most voters really get it. Sounds like a loser if you are on the wrong side of this...except of course in certain districts in South Carolina...

[MJJP21]

21. Is this

comp time hour for hour or time and a half per hour worked?

[ebbie15644]

23. Have to ask, did any dems vote for it?

[840high]

25. I'd like to know. Is

there a link to the vote.

[tiredtoo]

27. Post number 7 above lists 3 democrats that voted for this bill, no text.

[Turbineguy]

26. That's the problem with today's economy.

Workers.

We obviously need more management.

[markiv]

29. it basically makes everyone salaried (Exempt) workers

salary is the biggest screw job in the world. it wasnt bad in the days of the 'gentleman's agreement' where it wasnt abused, but for years it's been free labor past 40 hours, and abused. for a long time, as an IT contractor, i'd only work hourly - not because i wanted the money, but becasue i didnt want to work heavy time over 40 hours and burn out

you'll bank 'comp time' that you can never use before it expires

kind of like 'frequent flier miles' that always get lost in fine print, before you ever get anything for them

[peacebird]

35. Exactly, we have been so understaffed in my last couple jobs that I routinely worked 60-70 hrs

a week for a 40 hour paycheck. It was simply not possible to get the work done otherwise. And I was laid off anyhow. At my current gig I will still go the extra mile before releases, but I am making sure that the other three weeks a month I clock in at 40.

4 more years, then I can retire. Just have to hold on for 4 more years....

[davidpdx]

36. It will not make it out of committee in the Senate

I agree with you about taking back the House, but I don't think it's going to happen. My educated guess (and it is just that) is that both the House and Senate will remain in the hands of the party they are in now, but with an even tighter majority. I think the house cleaning is going to take place in 2016.

[Doctor_J]

37. President needs to declare right now that he will veto any such measure

Lead a charge against the repukes for a change

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

41. I've never been in favor of comp-time at the employer's discretion.

At the employee's choice this could be an option that some people would use.

IMHO, labor needs an advocate here to look out for the rights and best interest of the worker. Such an option should only be available in capacities where a union audits the program.

[Indyfan53]

58. Tell the UAW, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, etc...

Tell every union about this so we can have the tools and resources to fight this ligislation and the republicans.

[LeftInTX]

42. This needs to be called out

Remember it for future elections. It is not going to go well with most voters. I say most because there are obviously those in management who would support this.

This is a slap in the face for hourly workers. Keep this in mind for future elections and future presidential elections.

Republicans will do away with overtime for hourly workers plain and simple.

[Indyfan53]

49. Spread the word!

Share this on facebook, twitter, tumblr, redditt, etc. Call your representatives if they voted yes on this, and shame them for doing so.

[apnu]

43. We likely won't take the House back by any significant margin in 2014.

Being asleep at the wheel in 2010 allowed the Republicans to gerrymander themselves into power until 2020. That's the fact of life we all gotta live with. Though the R's have been pissing off everybody in America except the 23% that vote for them no matter what, they'll stay a competitive national party until the next census. That's why they're ramming ever POS bill and law they can through every assembly hall on every level of our government in every corner of the county they can. The Republicans know they're on the wrong side of history, the wrong side of culture, and they know their time is limited. In one, maybe two, generations they will be a regional Southern party.

This is why people need to be awake and motivated in the small election cycles. We whined and moaned about how "disappointed" we were with our guy Obama for two years and that depressed turnout in 2010, whereas the R's were energized and they knew exactly what they were doing. Its our own damn fault for not showing up at the polls.

[BlueDemKev]

44. +1,000

Democratic voters' staying home on Election Day 2010 is the very reason why Republicans have a solid lock on the majority of state houses and the U.S. House of Reps. Winning in a year ending in "0" gives you control of redistricting based on the census numbers.

[Indyfan53]

47. It's a damn shame, but we shouldn't give up.

All we can do is try to put the same effort in that we had in 2012. We will win if we use this and their plans to cut our social safety nets against them. The AFL-CIO is trying to get this out.

We need to at least try to hold and even grow our majority in the senate. Bachmann won by a slim majority in the last election. We can get rid of her and other teabaggers out of congress.

[nebenaube]

52. The House passes way too many stupid laws... they need a purge.

and that is exactly how I intend to vote.