Some veterans are concerned that they may lose overtime eligibility because
proposed rules would allow employers to count military training when classifying
workers as "learned professionals" who are exempt from overtime pay,
the Associated Press reports.
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by highlighting the concerns of some veterans. The labor unions and some veterans
contend that the new rules would make some veterans ineligible for overtime
in the white-collar jobs they currently hold, according to the AP.
They point to language in the Labor Department's proposal, which says "the
exemption is also available to employees in such professions who have substantially
the same knowledge as the degreed employees, but who have attained such knowledge
through a combination of work experience, training in the armed forces, attending
a technical school, attending a community college or other intellectual instruction."
An official from the Labor Department tells the Washington Post that there
has been some confusion over the proposed rules, which the department aims to
clarify when it issues final rules by the end of March.
"Where people have raised concerns, we're confident we can address it
in the final rules," says Victoria A. Lipnic, assistant secretary of labor
for employment standards. "Vets can be assured their vet status will not
result in them losing overtime."
The question of who would lose their overtime is one of the most divisive aspects
of the Bush administration's proposal. Bush contends 644,000 white-collar workers
would lose their overtime eligibility. Labor unions and many Democrats say that
about 8 million workers would lose overtime eligibility.
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