WELLS, Maine — To keep up with rising inflation, a bill is making its way through the legislature that would jumpstart Maine's overtime laws if passed.
Presented by Sen. Mike Tipping, "An Act Regarding Overtime Protections for Certain Maine Workers" would gradually increase the threshold employees are paid each year to be exempt from overtime pay.
"Most people were covered by these overtime protections when they were put into place," Tipping said. "But because wages have risen, inflation has happened...now there is...many fewer people covered."
Right now, that threshold is a little more than $42,000 a year. If passed, the bill would bump up the threshold to $55,000 a year by January of next year with another adjustment each following year.
Those in favor of the idea said it could protect certain employees who currently work well over a 40-hour work week but don't earn overtime pay because of loopholes in the law.
"We think this is a good solution, it's a long time coming," Andy O'Brien a representative for the AFL-CIO, said. "The fact that only eleven percent of salaried Americans are below the threshold tells us something, that it needs to change."
But not all believe the move would be beneficial for Maine workers. With many seasonal businesses here in Maine, small business owner Jim MacNeill of the Maine Diner in Wells said some employers may switch workers back to hourly rates or eliminate some benefits to pay for the change.
"Just don't look at LL Bean, or you know, Cianbro, or you know, these large corporations. Look at the little guys like us," MacNeill said. "Things are going to have to be taken away in order to cover the expense."