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@ISIDEWITHQuestionsEconomyStarted 10yrs agoActive 2yrs ago

Should the government require businesses to pay salaried employees, making up to $46k/year, time-and-a-half for overtime hours?

In May 2016, the Obama Administration announced new regulations that would increase the number of American entitled to receive time-and-a-half overtime pay. Salaried workers who earn up to $46,476 per year are now entitled to earn time-and-a-half pay when they work more than 40 hours per week. The previous regulations, issued in 2004, set the threshold for overtime pay at $23,660. The Labor department estimates that 4.2 million workers will become newly eligible for overtime pay under the new regulations. Proponents argue that the rule is necessary due to inflation and note that only 7% of salaried workers currently qualify for overtime pay in 2015, down sharply from 60% in 1975. Opponents argue that the new rules will hurt employers and incentivize them to cut their employee’s hours.

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Answer Overview

Response rates from 484k America voters.

65%
Yes
35%
No
59%
Yes
27%
No
5%
Yes, and the government should do more to protect workers’ rights
7%
No, and the government is currently over-regulating private businesses
1%
Yes, and all employees should be paid time-and-a-half for overtime hours regardless of their pay scale
1%
No, our economy and businesses cannot afford a decrease in worker productivity right now

Historical Support

Trend of support over time for each answer from 484k America voters.

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Historical Importance

Trend of how important this issue is for 484k America voters.

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Other Popular Answers

Unique answers from America voters whose views went beyond the provided options.

 @4WW5X8Kfrom Texas  answered…6yrs6Y

Yes but only given the current circumstance. We are and should accelerate moving from employee/employer model too a contracter model. Benefits, pensions, etc cause corruption and impede the understanding of the employee.

 @xanderlanefrom Michigan  answered…6yrs6Y

Yes, but only businesses with 100+ employees

  @DSNEPatriot  from Florida  answered…2yrs2Y

No, but I would admire any business that chose to do so. The government should limit regulations on private businesses.

 @8N5RTHJ from Arkansas  answered…6yrs6Y

If they work over hours and get work done then they should be paid. If they are hanging around and doing nothing for extra money no they shouldn't be paid.

 @B2TYTFT  from Indiana  answered…1yr1Y

Yes, Hourly employees should be paid time-and-a-half for overtime hours regardless of their pay scale

 @8Y9NDSQ from Kentucky  answered…4yrs4Y

Yes, and all employees should be paid time-and-a-half for overtime hours regardless of their pay scale. But the businesses should require it, NOT the government.

 @4WVZVSQfrom Texas  answered…6yrs6Y

It depends on how many hours the employee is working.

 @8TYH38S from Texas  answered…3yrs3Y

No, only for large corporations

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…2yrs2Y

Elizabeth Warren Walks Back Murder Comments

Congressional Democrats broadly denounced the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Friday morning, after Republicans started accusing Sen. Elizabeth Warren of excusing violence.“No one's condoning this,” said Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.). “Violence never is the right answer for anything. And it was a horrible murder, a tragic loss for his family.” Warren this week condemned the shooting, but added that people “can be pushed only so far.”"We'll say it over and over," Warren said on MSNBC’S “The ReidOut.” " Violence is never the answer. This guy [Luigi Mangione] gets a trial who's allegedly killed the CEO of UnitedHealth, but you can only push people so far, and then they start to take matters into their own hands."In a statement to POLITICO, Warren said, “Violence is never the answer. Period. I should have been much clearer that there is never a justification for murder.” Top Republicans denounced Warren's comments and the walked-back rhetoric, with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) calling it “inappropriate and dangerous.”Some House Democrats asked about the incident on Thursday pivoted the conversation to discuss policy options on health care or gun safety.“I don't really know that this is really a space that Congress normally weighs in on,” said Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas). “But at the end of the day, I think it’s an opportunity, because now people are talking about health care and to talk about the fact that this industry has honestly not been as helpful as it could be.”“Violence is never the answer,” said Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.). “We know that there are people suffering, there’s great challenges in healthcare. There's great challenges, and people have, in fact, been wronged, but a process of governance is the way to address that, not violence.”And Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) who denounced the murder, said the killer should be prosecuted and that “I do know that allegedly a ghost gun was used, and we should also ban ghost guns. There's no reason for them beyond the streets.”

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Based on 484k responses to this question.

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iSideWith. (2026). “Should the government require businesses to pay salaried employees, making up to $46k/year, time-and-a-half for overtime hours?” — Public Opinion Poll Results. Retrieved June 26, 2026, from https://www.isidewith.com/polls/2335853039

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