New OT law and the media

So, have any newspapers had discussions or informed their staff about being eligible for OT now?

http://gawker.com/overtime-pay-is-real-again-1777304255

 

I think most staff had been eligible. It's any low-paid managers and senior reporters/columnists who are newly eligible.

 

I don't know that legal eligibility has ever been the main problem in journalists getting paid overtime. And I assume the management browbeating will continue, as will the capitulation from workers.

 

According to many of the higher-ups in my early career, putting in for overtime is one of the first signs of lack of dedication to the calling of journalism.

 

A few months ago, I spoke to a manager about a raise. I mentioned I put in close to 20 hours of unpaid overtime a week because I am a salaried manager. I was told that working overtime is just expected of managers. I wonder how quickly he will rescind that expectation.

 

Well, yeah, when you're salaried, you don't get overtime. That's just the way it works. It's not even an option, so in theory it wasn't "unpaid."

 

Isn't part of your agreement weekly hours?

 

Yes. All the hours required, I assume.

 

Except that legally, in most cases, you're supposed to be paid. My position used to be salaried without overtime. One class action lawsuit later, I'm hourly with overtime.

 

I'm not sure how many people in my company would have to reduce work or make more, but I know two in my department.

 

Have no experience, as Herald was a union shop. Except for working holidays, sports didn't get OT. Did get comp time, which when all the teams were winning could really add up.

 

I wasn't even taking into consideration the new threshold on the OT law when I posted this. Brain fart. Carry on.