Thanks for the explanation. Luckily, I've always worked for companies where 40 hours was enough.

That song sounds familiar... I must have heard it at some point.

Michelle

>There are a number of labor classifications (3) and some fall under federal law while others fall under state law. Three categories are exempt (no additional compensation for any overtime), hourly (over time will be paid but may be subject to state laws) and union contract (all salaries and benefits are defined and protected by law).
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>When the Nixon Administration went into its 5 economic stages (1, 2, 3, 4 , and 4 ½), exempt employees could not be given a pay raise, hourly wages were frozen also, but all union contracts were in force and not subject to wage freezes. That is one example of how the federal government can control wages.
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>Companies like HP at different times have reduced exempt employees wages by 10 % rather than downsize (lay off). Some companies will downsize and reduce wages.
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>The labor market is like the song from an Irish group called “The Dubliners”, “The Hiring Fair”, a group I knew well. In case you have not heard the song it basically is about a poor worker who is being worked to death and dares to complain to the owner. The owner responds “It’s alright if you die because there are plenty more like you at the Hiring Fair”!
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>Tom