International Sign Association Applauds House Action on Overtime Law, Calls for Senate to Pass Bill
Alexandria, VA – October 4, 2016 — The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bill to delay implementation of a new Department of Labor requirement to make over 4 million workers eligible for overtime pay – including those in the sign, graphics and visual communications industry.
This new federal rule more than doubles the salary threshold and will likely force many employers to cut jobs and hours in order to meet rising payroll costs.
Now that the U.S. House has passed their bill, ISA strongly urges industry members to contact their U.S. Senators and tell them to support S. 3462, which is the Senate’s version of this effort.
Without further Congressional action, the overtime law is due to take effect December 1. The House (H.R. 6094) and Senate bills would delay implementation of the rule until mid-2017.
“This Department of Labor mandate is going to adversely impact the sign, graphics and visual communications industry,” said David Hickey, ISA’s vice president of advocacy. “The six-month delay passed in the House and proposed by the Senate at least provides more time for our industry to prepare.”
Two organizations in which ISA holds membership – the American Society of Association Executives and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – also have filed suit in federal court, arguing that the Department of Labor overstepped its authority in issuing the rule. ISA strongly supports these lawsuits. In addition to adjusting the overtime threshold, the department established an automatic salary threshold increase every three years, to take place without notice or public comment. ISA supports efforts to require that any increases take place only after public notice and opportunity for public comment.
ISA has worked to prepare sign, graphics and visual communications companies for the rule’s implementation by partnering with the law firm of Burr & Forman to offer webinars detailing how the rule will impact the industry. They are archived at www.signs.org/webinars.
