[E421]Half or quits
本文音频及原文摘自杂志The Economist 2016年第21期，United States版块。
Overtime pay
May 21st 2016
Currently, employees earning over $23,660 are not eligible[1] for overtime pay[加班费], a mandatory[2] 50% wage bump for work in excess of[超过] 40 hours per week. Inflation has put most over this level: in 1975 62% of full-time salaried workers were eligible; today just 7% are. From December, the White House has announced, the threshold will rise to $47,476. That will probably boost the earnings of existing employees slightly, though firms are likely to cut wages for new recruits[新员工] to keep costs down. They may also be discouraged from allocating workers more than 40 hours. That will hurt some. A slightly higher federal minimum wage[联邦最低工资;标准联邦最低工资;最低时薪] would be a less risky route to higher pay. But changes to overtime rules, unlike the minimum wage, do not require the consent of Congress[3].
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注释
[1]eligible ['elɪdʒɪb(ə)l]
having the necessary qualities or satisfying the necessary conditions 具备条件的；有资格的；合格的
be eligible for 有资格的；符合…的条件
Are you eligible for early retirement/maternity leave?
你符合提前退休／休产假的条件吗？
[2]mandatory ['mændət(ə)rɪ]
describes something which must be done, or which is demanded by law 强制的；必须履行的；法定的
The minister is calling for mandatory prison sentences for people who assault police officers.
部长呼吁把袭警者须受的惩罚定为强制监禁。
[3]consent [kən'sent]
permission or agreement 许可，允许；同意
They can't publish your name without your consent.
未经你的同意他们不能公布你的名字。
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以上言论不代表本人立场。
原文摘自The economist，仅外语学习之用。
其中生词解释来源于Cambridge Dictionaries
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