After a series of public hearings, the New York State wage board recommended a new overtime threshold for farm workers, prompting concerns over what this means for many farm businesses’ bottom line.
Farmworkers average 70-80 hours per week, but the new overtime rule is dropping the full-time status to 40 hours per week, according to WETM. Many farmers cannot afford to pay 40 hours in overtime as it becomes increasingly more expensive to manage a farm and make a profit.
The 2 to 1 decision by the wage board will lower the hourly threshold for overtime by two hours per week every two years, beginning in 2024.
The board must present their proposal before the labor commissioner before it is officially enacted.
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