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I Want your help on this. It WILL work. It WILL help thousands, and the only cost to you will be the willingness to pass this idea to others. I ask nothing in return.

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Most of us want good, long-lasting, well-paying jobs. We all want a source of income where we can fuel our need for creative expression while at the same time sustaining a place of comfort and safety away from work. We are sorely in need of job reform (at least here in the United States) and I think I have just the answer to the creation of thousands upon thousands of jobs at little to no cost to taxes or by harming the income of those already working.

Don’t believe me? Read on………..

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According to some quick research done on the net, the original overtime laws were put into effect a long time ago; 1938 to be exact. Here’s what most people don’t realize about how overtime works. Let’s say you’re making twenty dollars an hour and go 13 hours 20 minutes past your standard 40 work week, your take-home paycheck will then reflect an increase of 50%, give or take a little depending on how certain deductions are set up. In any case, the cost to the employer is NOT another 50% of your value to the company. Why? Because all of your perks or benefits such as insurances (medical, unemployment, etc.), vacation, sick days, and so on are already covered in the first 100%. Where you may see an extra 400.00 dollars on your end, my understanding is the employer only sees his costs rise about 35%. Painful? Yes, but not all that much, especially when considering the potential experience behind the output.

When the economy takes a dive, and I’ve seen this several times in my life now, several things commonly happen. In order to keep businesses running, companies will get rid of the under-qualified and overpaid. Unfortunately this also means those who are left probably should have had a raise long before this scenario. Once a portion of business is lost they will do what they can to recoup those losses. In order to make sure a reliable workforce capable manning new projects remains intact they MUST keep a certain core of qualified, motivated people. “Bridge” jobs and buying work is common so these people can be of use later when the labor force demands true growth, In the mean time the next step is to use who they have kept to cover for those they let go by working them very often past 50 or even 60 hours or more a week. Smart? Maybe at first, but when these employees lose some of their home time to work it will eventually put a strain on the quality of both lifestyles. When genuine fatigue and other factors come into play we are looking at possible on site injuries, drug use, a lack of motivation, and loss of customer service; so ultimately the system will begin to break down.

Here’s where job creation comes into the picture.

Change the laws. It’s just that simple…………

 EQUAL………..

I say we make a new law that says anything worked past 50 hours a week,

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DOUBLE TIME!

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Seriously, if you’re making 10 hours a week overtime, you’re probably doing fair; and YES, I’m aware this is a wide judgement, especially if you are at the bottom of the wage scale, but for the moment I’m sticking with this opinion. Few would argue that working past fifty hours in any seven-day period cuts into getting the laundry done not to mention, social, family, and spiritual activities along with just time to plain old relax and rest.

When this type of new law passes, companies that were getting cold feet about bringing in new or re-hires should speed up the rate at which jobs come into the marketplace because double-time will simply not be economically viable. Besides, wouldn’t the government WANT more taxpayers on the “payroll” anyway? Not that I’m taking their side, it’s just logical.

The second obvious point to this subject should address those on salaries. Here is where we get into some grey areas. CEO’s making north of six  figures need not be concerned here, no doubt about that, but let’s face it, there are a LOT of those employed under so-called “salaries” that the math will play out to show they are approaching minimum wage; depending of course on just how many hours are being thrust upon them. I’ve been there myself and honestly, I’ll never go back. I LOVE to work, and in turn I enjoy the rewards of the hours I put in, but when I was on salary I had NO motivation to work past a “normal” 40 hour week. Why should I? The more I worked the more my value went down. So I say let’s start at the bottom of the scale and rise with some sort of fairness about it. Salaries can be a wonderful source of guaranteed income for some, but my experience shows me this “benefit” is abused more than enjoyed. Perhaps where this type of pay is suggested a pre-determined hourly amount would equal decent compensation only to a certain point, say 55 hours per week. Past this earmark the cost of the employee would rise as if he or she were hourly.  In any event, I’m pretty sure most would agree with me on this subject.

I’m sure being overworked (unless you really are doing something you love) is not how most would envision their futures. I also believe there is plenty of abundance to go around. My opinion says we should always be working towards finding those qualified to replace us so we can then be free to move up the food chain and learn how to replace those above our current pay grade. That’s just the way businesses grow.

If any of what you’ve read here sounds practical, please pass the word. Through the right channels those who have the proper leverage will begin to take action. Why? Because, by my hand, I declare there is no author attached to this idea; I let go completely, run with it all you want. If YOU would like to take credit for all this, please do so. I am more interested in the idea taking root than seeking “glory” for its materialization.

This is only the first of many ideas I will put out “there” for everyone. The next one will blow you away. Trust me……..

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With Love and Compassion, Daniel Andrew Lockwood