Overtime Rules Allowed to Proceed

A legislative attempt to block proposed revisions in overtime rules for private sector employees that could spill over into the federal sector has failed, although opponents of the changes may try again next year. The proposed rules would make certain lower-income workers eligible for such pay but also make ineligible certain more highly-paid employees now eligible for overtime. Opponents failed to get a proposal to block the rules included in the catchall budget measure, meaning a final version of the rules can be issued. The effect of the rules on the federal workforce is unknown, however, since overtime for federal employees is set under a separate set of rules. Also, overtime for certain categories of workers who could lose eligibility under the private sector rules is set by statute for the federal workforce and a separate law would have to be passed to change the policies for them.