President Obama is issuing an executive order requiring American businesses to pay more overtime to millions of “white collar’’ workers who are now exempt. Under current regulations, companies cannot deny overtime to salaried workers making less than $455 a week. Obama directed the Labor Department to raise that threshold to qualify managers for overtime if they work more than 40 hours a week. Cecilia Muñoz, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, said the new regulation would “fix the system so folks working hard are getting compensated fairly,” and thus reduce inequality. Business groups said Obama would raise their costs and hurt consumers by meddling in their salary policies.
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