U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Applauds Progress on Overtime Protections for Middle Class Workers

Press Release

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin applauded progress on efforts to support Wisconsin's middle class and boost incomes of working families by strengthening overtime protections for salaried workers.

"Too many Americans are working longer and harder yet they are still struggling to get ahead," said Senator Baldwin. "I'm encouraged to see continued progress on this effort to strengthen overtime protections that respect and reward hard work. Working families in Wisconsin deserve a fair day's pay for a hard day's work."

Current regulations fail to protect a majority of salaried workers by only requiring employers to pay time and a half for those who earn less than $23,660 annually. This salary threshold applies to only 11 percent of salaried American workers and is below the federal poverty level for a family of four. In Wisconsin, only 8.9% of salaried workers currently have overtime protections, compared to 44% of Wisconsin salaried workers with overtime protections in 1975, according to a study by the Economic Policy Institute.

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