A coalition of 21 states, including Arkansas, is suing the U.S. Department of Labor over a new rule that would make more higher-earning workers eligible for overtime pay.
In it’s August meeting, members of the Baxter County Quorum Court voted to join an effort seeking to halt the Department of Labor from implementing changes in the overtime regulations for salaried employees that could possibly cost the county thousands of dollars in overtime pay.
The justices approved a resolution during their regular monthly meeting Tuesday that asks Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge to file suit against the U.S. Department of Labor to halt the implementation of the change until a complete review of its financial and operational impact can be completed.
The new change is set to be implemented December 1st. It will require that salaried employees making less than $47,476 be paid overtime for working more than 40-hours-per-week. Under the current regulations, employees making $23,660 or more are exempt.
It has been estimated that 18 county employees would be directly affected and County Judge Mickey Pendergrass said it was difficult at this time to quantify exactly how the county would be impacted both financially and operationally, but said there was little doubt that if the measure goes into effect,”we will take a big hit”.
The resolution received the unanimous approval of the courts Budget Committee on July 18th and the unanimous approval of the entire court Tuesday.
According to the resolution, the decision to change the rules was made without congressional participation and without an adequate study of the adverse impact on both employees and employers that will result from the change.
The rule change will result in either increased spending for overtime, or a change in job structures that could result in employee demotions and decreases in wages, according to the resolution.
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