[cinives]

Welcome to deflation and the global economy, folks.

Nice: work 45 hours for the same pay as 40 hours used to supply.

[bolobaby]

Bring lawsuit, get burned. If they don’t like their job, maybe they should find a new one instead of screwing it up for everyone else.

[AppyPappy]

If you are routinely staying 50+ hours a week in the office, it’s your own fault. Most of the people I have met who work long hours are either great time-wasters or incompetent. I knew some senior VP’s who worked those hours but they are were unable to delegate so they attended a lot of worthless meetings.

Of course, I have known people who just hung around the office because they thought it looked good. I worked with one guy who worked 60-70 and he was grossly incompetent. He spent a whole week working on a PowerPoint on diversity. Seventy hours on a freaking PowerPoint!!

[CA Conservative]

I have a hard time feeling any sympathy. Anyone in business knows that you usually pay emxempt staff at a higher base salary because they can’t get overtime pay. If you are going to sue to be classified as non-exempt in order ot be eligible for overtime, you shouldn’t be surprised when your base pay is adjusted accordingly.

[mysterio]

How much of a pay cut is IBM corporate management going to take?

[caver]

Well, IBM could farm out their work to India. Oh wait, they’ve already done that.

[Moonman62]

One document, labeled a confidential "Q&A for customers," lists this sample question that an IBM client might ask: "What has been the reaction of employees who are being reclassified?"

The suggested response for managers: "They understand this is something we must do under current interpretations of the law and to remain competitive within our industry."

Funny how they know what the employees think before they think it.

[jack_napier]

Having been a worker at IBM that they tried giving a paycut to, and having worked with people at IBM who stayed through paycuts, one of two things happen:

1) People quit (what I did)
2) People become lazy and/or steal.

It doesn't pay, Big Blue. This company has a moron management problem.

[Richard Kimball]

All your base are belong to us.

[madison10]

Either take a pay cut, or hit the street...that’s how it’s going for most jobs.

[dragnet2]

Wages follow our standard of living.

[Doohickey]

Cause...meet effect.

[KarlInOhio]

When I compared the jobs are on salary (no overtime) at the various places I've worked vs. what the labor law requirements are for those positions, it looks like the vast majority of salary jobs should really be considered hourly jobs.

I'm not saying the labor law is right, just that many, many employers aren't following it very closely.

[abercrombie_guy_38]

IBM is one of the worst companies, IMO. This is just another example to add to the list.

[RinaseaofDs]

Good for IBM.

Courts forced their hand on this.

[JasonC]

If you are so furious about it, go ahead and quit.

Whining legalistic jackasses, getting exactly what they wished for - and deserve.

[Myrddin]

I've been salaried since 1980. The only time I've been paid for "overtime" was when my customer requested extended work weeks and agreed to pay straight time for the extra hours. That is very rare. My paycheck is the same whether I work 80 hours or 140 hours in a two week time card period. If I can't find at least 80 hours of direct chargeable labor in a two week period, I have to either fill the difference from my comprehensive leave or indicate unpaid time off. The latter option reduces my paycheck.

I've described the realities of working as a salaried software developer. Frankly, I've really felt ripped off by working all those hours and not seeing the compensation in my paycheck at the end of the pay period. That's the short term, get it now view. The long term is that my employer recognized the effort and rewarded me with bonuses, promotions and pay raises. My patience was rewarded. The larger paychecks come every two weeks instead of sporadically.

The day may come when the company books are audited and the uncompensated overtime is viewed as a liability due the employees. If that happens, the windfall will be nice. If not, no big deal.

[traumer]

You may complain - but beware there are others willing to work for less....