By: Central WA farmer

Central WA farmer — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 16:48:38 +0000

If this ruling results in new laws aside from dairy workers, I’m curious how they’ll implement it. A salary worker making $50k/yr with a budget of 2300 hours will exceed the 40hr/wk maximum before OT. Employers may simply reduce pay to the point where when their OT is added, they still earn the same $50k/yr for the same 2300 hours.
Another option is farms could split entities to have employees working for two businesses, circumventing it that way. One way or another, it seems to only add bloating and burden to the system, making businesses craft new ways to keep costs down to maintain competitiveness, or not allowing employees to work their way up financially because of those added costs. It would also add to state costs trying to ensure rules are followed, resulting in more audits, costing taxpayers more money anyway.
The court decision doesn’t make anything happen immediately, as there are no laws in place to enforce it. It could take years before something is implemented.

Comments on: Washington State Supreme Court Rules Farmworkers Are Entitled to Overtime Pay

By: Central WA farmer