NRF calls for a halt to overtime changes

The National Retail Federation has renewed its call to the government to prevent the proposed changes to federal overtime rules from taking effect.



“Under this administration, employers have witnessed a deluge of labor regulations that have had real consequences on economic growth and job creation,” NRF senior VP government relations David French wrote in a letter to the committee.

“The pending changes are clearly excessive and will have sweeping negative consequences for employees,” French said. “The Department’s one-size-fits-all rule will curtail career advancement opportunities, diminish workplace flexibility, damage employee morale and lead to a more hierarchical workplace. Many employees who currently enjoy the benefits associated with salaried, exempt status may be forced to take a step back in their careers when they are converted to hourly, non-exempt status as a direct result of this rule.”

French said DOL’s proposal to raise the wage level under which most workers automatically receive overtime to $50,440 a year – more than double the current $23,660 – “is artificially high and breaks sharply with DOL’s recent precedents in setting the salary level.” A $47,000 level reportedly being considered by DOL as an alternative is “equally unworkable.”



“Throughout the rulemaking process, NRF and others have expressed significant concerns with DOL’s failure to consider regional differences in costs of living and the lack of transparency in the agency’s impact analyses,” French said. “Despite stakeholders’ widespread opposition to the rule and a record number of meetings with administration officials, it is clear DOL is not willing to reconsider the rule in any meaningful way absent congressional action.”