Cass Ballenger: “performance bonuses and gainsharing programs are a way for employees to share in the success of a company that they work…”

“performance bonuses and gainsharing programs are a way for employees to share in the success of a company that they work for. Whether exempt or nonexempt, all employees should have the same opportunity to receive bonuses for their hard work. For many employers, the administrative costs associated with operating bonus programs for their hourly employees often end up costing more than actual bonuses. Because of this, current law virtually ensures that employers exclude hourly workers from bonus programs. Today, I am reintroducing The Rewarding Performance in Compensation Act, which will help workers to share when their efforts that they have produce gains for the company. This legislation would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to specify that an hourly employee's regular rate of pay in calculating overtime would not be affected by additional payments that reward employees who meet certain goals. Simply put, this bill would give hourly nonexempt employees the same access to bonuses that are exempt from professional employees that they already receive, and I ask my colleagues to support The Rewarding Performance in Compensation Act.”