Sonoma County Fair cuts overtime pay for temporary workers
The Sonoma County Fair used a labor law exemption to avoid paying overtime to roughly 600 temporary workers employed during the annual 16-day fair in July. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, federal rules exempt many short-term entertainment events from paying overtime. The exemption rule states entertainment events lasting less than seven months of the year, consecutive or non-consecutive, are not required to provide overtime pay.
In an interview with the Press Democrat, Fair Manager Tawny Tesconi said many other fairs utilize the exemption, but this year was the first for the Sonoma County Fair. The exemption saved the Fair about $29,000. Considering other financial strains, such as the upcoming minimum wage increase, Tesconi has other cause for concern.
On Tuesday, the county supervisory board urged a restoration of overtime pay, calling the fair's practices inappropriate for Sonoma County, as well as "a social justice issue." County Board Supervisor Mike McGuire proposed that the county government could assist in the cost of paying overtime in the upcoming year, following budget approval.
Though the fair is well within its legal rights to deny overtime to employees, tracking employee time is still an important concern. Maintaining records with time and attendance software is vital to avoid lawsuits and labor disputes.
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