The Department of Labor expanded the eligibility for overtime pay for Americans working over 40 hours per week.

Details: This change provides lower-paid workers with higher compensation for long hours, and is expected to embroil the administration in legal disputes with business groups. Starting July 1, 2024, individuals making less than $43,888 per year, or $844 per week, will be entitled to overtime pay. By Jan. 1, 2025, the salary threshold will increase to $58,656 per year, or $1,128 per week. The rule will adjust the salary eligibility level every three years, starting in 2027, to keep up with changing labor market dynamics and wages.

For Context: The change, which is expected to affect around 4.3 million workers, is an extension of an Obama-era initiative that was eventually struck down in court. Notably, 56% of the workers expected to be affected by this rule change are women and 24% are workers of color.

How the Media Covered It: CNBC (Center bias) focusing on the specifics of the initiative and the potential impact on workers. CBS News (Lean Left bias) highlighted the potential $1.5 billion increase in collective pay for workers and the benefits suggested by labor advocates. The Daily Caller (Right bias) took a more critical stance, noting that a similar rule issued during the Obama administration was blocked by a federal judge, expressing skepticism about the current administration's approach. This summary was developed with the help of AllSides' AI technology.