SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio chef Andrew Weissman said he is adjusting to new federal regulations that require businesses to pay overtime to salaried employees who earn less than $47,000.
The U.S. Department of Labor doubled the previous threshold of just under $24,000 in order to grow middle class wages. The new rules affect over 4 million Americans, including 370,000 Texans.
"It seems like every week now we're getting hit with new rules and regulations," Weissman said. "We're just trying to roll with the punches and do the best we can."
Weissman owns seven restaurants, including The Luxury in downtown San Antonio.
"It's the world we live in now. We're going to try and meet and exceed so we can attract the appropriate staffing," Weissman said.
H-E-B President and CEO Craig Boyan said the grocery giant is happy to pay more, saying "it is our goal in a hyper-competitive industry to pay people as much as we can, not as little as we can."
Weissman said because of strong demand for labor, most of his salaried employees earn above the threshold. But he understands it might be tough for many business owners to navigate the new regulations.
U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Thomas Perez said that under the new rule, 2.5 million children will see at least one parent gain either overtime pay or more wages.
Architects of the new legislation say they hope it'll encourage employers to hire new employees rather than force existing ones to work too much. The new rules take effect Dec. 1.