💼DOL lowers FLSA overtime threshold affecting 3 million workers

Labor Department rollbacks eliminate overtime protections for employees earning above $35,000 annually, forcing longer hours without additional compensation. Working families lose income while employers reduce labor costs by reclassifying positions to avoid overtime requirements that previously protected work-life balance.

Business groups celebrate reduced overtime obligations that allow longer employee hours without wage premiums. Profit margins improve when companies avoid overtime payments while workers face increased hours and job responsibilities without corresponding pay increases or additional benefits.

AFL-CIO and worker advocacy organizations file immediate lawsuits opposing regulatory rollbacks that eliminate core labor rights. Legal battles determine whether federal agencies can reverse worker protections established through congressional legislation and decades of successful implementation.

Policy changes reveal government priorities when business interests conflict with worker rights and fair labor standards. Democratic governance faces scrutiny when federal agencies prioritize corporate cost reduction over working families' economic security and quality of life protection.