When New York State introduced overtime pay for farm workers two years ago, many farmers feared the increased cost would put them out of business while many of their employees worried about lost wages because of fewer work hours.
Now, as a state panel considers lowering the OT threshold from 60 hours per week to 40 hours, a report from the state Department of Labor suggests overtime pay hasn't had a big impact on either group so far.
Farm employees earned, on average, $39,137 in 2020, the first year that they were eligible for time-and-a-half pay after 60 hours per week, according to the report.
That’s up from $37,659 in 2019 and $35,795 in 2018. The state minimum wage also increased in each of the three years.
"The average wage for farm workers with the new overtime protections did grow, but it didn’t grow much," said department statistician Kevin Hannel, referring to the $1,478 annual wage gain between 2019 and 2020 compared with $1,864 between 2018 and 2019.
He presented the report at a virtual public hearing held on Tuesday by the state Farm Laborers Wage Board. The panel is considering whether to lower the OT threshold to 40 hours, the standard for most employees in New York.
Separately, Gov. Kathy Hochul in her State of the State speech on Wednesday proposed that the State Legislature create "a permanent refundable tax credit on overtime hours for any size farm ... to offset increasing costs to farmers."
During Tuesday's wage board hearing, the labor department...
Rep. Eric Swalwell on Friday forcefully denied allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, saying in a public statement and a video posted to social media that the claims are false and politicall...