An Argument in Favor of The Congress Increasing The Overtime Compensation for American Employees

Argumentative Essay- Overtime Pay

At this time, Congress is considering whether to increase the overtime compensation for American employees. American employees work hard for their families and themselves, and if they really need the extra money, they work overtime. Sometimes, the workers do not get paid their desired amounts and that leads to an imbalance because they’re working more hours for the same amount, or in some cases, decreased amounts of their normal wages. The circumstances that overtime pay has on the American workers are that sometimes, the workers are underpaid, the workers aren’t allowed to be paid overtime, employer retaliations, or in worst case scenarios, the claim that the workers filed against their employers do not go through. Legislation for overtime pay should not be passed because there are added costs of overtime rules, and there is limited flexibility in the workforce.

Congress should not pass legislation increasing overtime pay because there are added costs and less funds for the new overtime rules. According to article one, “Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections: Examining the Costs and Consequences of the Administration’s Overtime Proposal”, Chairman Tom Walburg states, “Unfortunately, the proposal’s anticipated consequences extend far beyond added costs and could have serious implications for many Americans.” This statement basically implies that the overtime rules and laws that are going to be passed, go over the federal limit, economy wise. For Americans that work overtime, the government will be spending millions of dollars just for new overtime reforms. The United States is already in debt, approximately $19 billion, and funding for these rules and reforms will add on to the debt. Also according to Walburg, “As employers struggle to cope with the added costs of these new overtime rules, many salaried employees will be demoted- demoted- to hourly workers with lower pay and stricter schedules.” To be demoted means to basically be downgraded as a form of punishment, and that is exactly what will happen if these overtime pay rules get passed. Because there will be so many added costs, all the employers will be forced to give the workers compensation for their hard overtime hours, and that will downgrade them and their ranks because they will put all of their time, effort and money into these lower ranking workers.

A second reason that Congress should not pass legislation increasing overtime pay is because there is limited flexibility in the workforce. What this means is that you have no say as to how you work and what you do in your job, and everything is set, there is no leeway. According to Walburg, “Of all the concerns we have heard about this proposal, the ones I find most alarming are those that will limit flexibility and opportunity in the workplace.” If there is a set schedule in the workforce and people feel obliged to work overtime because it’s mandated, then there really is no space and time and effort for the needs and wants of the workers. You should take any steps necessary to make sure you work the way you want, and the way you need to work, in an efficient manner. According to Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, many Americans work overtime and endanger their health and well-being just to provide for their families, that they barely get to see. So, my question is, is overtime really necessary for people that make enough money to sustain for themselves and their families?

The strongest argument that the opposing side makes is that overtime pay is necessary for numerous American families. According to Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, “These strengthened overtime protections would mean so much in the daily lives of millions of Americans. This overtime rule would allow more parents to be involved in their children’s lives- something we know is absolutely critical for the development and betterment of our children. This overtime rule would encourage employees to hire more workers instead of overworking a few, meaning more jobs for Americans. Jobs, jobs, jobs.” Wilson believes that these overtime rules and reforms will be better for enhancing the education of our children, and nation, and economic stability of the nation as well. Even then, that argument as opposed to the original argument is terrible because yes, we will be more involved in our family lives and personal lives, and there will also be more jobs for plenty of Americans, but there will be more debt in this nation, something we absolutely do not need at this moment, and there are limited options/liabilities that come with overtime rules.

In conclusion, the overtime rules/reforms that the government want to pass, are terrible ideas because there are more disadvantages than advantages, such as limited liabilities, straining the health of millions of Americans, the possibilities that you might not get paid for your overtime work and effort, etc. This nation needs to have better and enhanced reforms on subject matters that will actually be beneficial to our economy and nation, such as health reforms, and education reforms, not overtime reforms.