Oregon Senate OKs fix to overtime ‘overreach’

The Oregon Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved a proposal carried by Senate Republican Deputy Leader Tim Knopp of Bend that he said will fix overtime pay calculations and stop an “overreach” by state labor regulators.

Senate Bill 984 makes overtime pay calculable either daily or weekly, whichever is greater.

The bill fixes what Senate Republicans said was the Bureau of Labor and Industries’ overreach, which erroneously forced employers to pay more overtime hours than an employee earned.

Proponents said the bill helps protect employees from their employers facing undue government regulations that could threaten jobs.

The bill, Republicans said, protects manufacturing jobs in a global marketplace and protects Oregon’s competitiveness.

“Oregon is an export-dependent state, and Senate Bill 984 helps ensure Oregon industries can create jobs and continue contributing the economy,” Knopp said. “This is a great, bipartisan bill to provide employers the consistency and certainty that they need to continue making a positive impact on all Oregonians.”