High Country Times

Today, Ryan Mackenzie, Chairman of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, addressed a hearing titled "The Future of Wage Laws: Assessing the FLSA's Effectiveness, Challenges, and Opportunities." The hearing aimed to discuss reforms needed to modernize labor laws.

Mackenzie emphasized the importance of updating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which has been in place since 1938. He stated, "It is long overdue for Congress to update this 87-year-old law so workers and businesses have the best opportunities to succeed."

He criticized the Biden-Harris administration's approach to labor regulations, citing several examples. One was an overtime rule that attempted to raise the salary threshold for exempt employees by 65 percent. According to Mackenzie, this rule could cost businesses $18.8 billion annually and restrict workplace flexibility.

Mackenzie also highlighted issues with worker classification under the Biden administration, stating that their rules limit freelancers' ability to work independently. He questioned the enforceability of certain regulations affecting tipped workers and criticized the discontinuation of a program from the Trump era that allowed quicker payment of back wages.

Looking forward, Mackenzie expressed hope for relief under new leadership and mentioned ongoing Republican efforts to empower workers and employers through changes to the FLSA. These include reviewing overtime rate calculations and defining employee status more clearly.