New public service announcements from the U.S. Department of Labor are urging employers and employees to learn how the Fair Labor Standards Act will strengthen overtime protections for 6.7 million American workers.

The new Overtime Security Rule, which went into effect in August, clarifies and updates confusing overtime regulations first created in 1939 and not updated since 1949.

“The new overtime rules clarify regulations that haven’t been updated since Elvis was a teenager,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “Under the new rules, more workers than ever before will be entitled to overtime protection.

“Under the new rules, workers will know their overtime rights, employers will know their responsibilities and the department can more vigorously enforce these protections,” she continued. “In addition, the department has undertaken the most extensive compliance outreach on any regulation in its history to help employers comply with the new rules.”

The new Overtime Security Rule expands the number of workers eligible for overtime by nearly tripling the salary threshold. Under the new rule, workers paid less than $23,660 or $455 per week are automatically guaranteed overtime regardless of their title or duties. Under previous regulations, only workers earning less than $8,060 annually or $155 per week were guaranteed overtime.

A number of salaried workers earning more than the new threshold also gained the right to overtime under the new rules, including 1.3 million salaried white collar workers who were not entitled to overtime pay previously. Employers will pay an estimated $375 million annually in overtime.

The new rule guarantees hourly workers overtime regardless of how much they are paid. It does not impact union workers under collective bargaining agreements.

For more information, visit www.dol/gov/fairpay. [December 2004 PET AGE]