AMERICA IS WORKING ITSELF TO DEATH
That is, the part of America
that's lucky enough to actually work...

Bush's Labor Department to Change Overtime Pay Laws

A union-funded study found that 8 million workers would lose their overtime pay. Opponents say those employees will be required to work longer hours without extra pay if the proposal is adopted. That's because overtime pay acts as a protection to the 40-hour work week, and employers don't want to pay that price to get more work, they say.

"Our citizens are working longer hours than ever before - longer than any other industrial nation," according to a letter sent to Chao by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and signed by 42 Senate Democrats.

"At least one in five employees now has a work week that exceeds 50 hours. Protecting the 40-hour work week is vital to balancing work responsibilities and family needs. It is certainly not family friendly to require employees to work more hours for less pay."

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Thanks to Eschaton.

American Workers Get Stiffed on Vacation Time

U.S. workers aren't guaranteed any vacation time by law and take an average of 10.2 vacation days a year after three years on the job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In contrast, workers in the United Kingdom are guaranteed 20 paid vacation days by law and take an average of 25 days off a year. Even in notoriously hard-working Japan, workers have a legal right to 10 days off and take an average of almost 18 vacation days a year.

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