Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor released the final overtime rule, which will automatically extend overtime pay protections to over 4 million workers. This rule, which raises the salary threshold indicating eligibility to $913 per week or $47,476 per year, will affect millions of retail workers who work in management positions, many of whom are women and people of color. The final overtime rule will become effective on December 1, 2016.
“Because of outdated overtime rules, a management position in the retail sector too often comes with the expectation that you’ll work longer hours with no opportunity to earn overtime,” said UFCW International President Marc Perrone. “It is not uncommon to see managers who earn a modest salary at grocery stores and retail shops work 50 or 60 hours per week with no extra pay. By increasing the overtime threshold, we can begin to put an end to this unfair practice and see more hours given to people who really want them.”