By AP/KWMU
Springfield, Ill – A new Illinois law on overtime pay unintentionally fails to include a provision on seasonal workers and has resulted in smaller paychecks for some.
The state law was aimed at protecting workers from proposed federal rules on who can receive overtime pay. Critics have said millions of workers would lose their overtime under the revisions.
Under the state law that was adopted this spring, seasonal laborers must be paid time-and-half if they work more than 40 hours a week, which is the same as permanent employees.
To cope with the changes, park district officials have cut overtime for their seasonal workers and hired more workers as a less expensive alternative.