Double pay for employees that work holidays

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – Double pay for those that work a holiday may soon become mandatory. San Diego area Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez said she would soon introduce legislation making double-pay on holidays the law.

The legislation comes with union support because it will add to their coffers too.

Right now, double-pay is limited to Thanksgiving day and Christmas day, but the goal is double pay for all holidays.

One quarter of the workforce is required to work on holidays.

While many union workers are paid triple time, others get time and a half, and still others get no overtime pay.

“There is nothing in the law right now that prevents an employer from forcing their employees to come in and work on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and only paying them straight hourly pay,” said Assemblywoman Gonzalez.

Gonzalez singles out Walmart, saying Walmart forces employees to work these holidays under penalty of being fired.

Walmart employee Janika Wilborn says not true, and Walmart pays overtime.

“I’m okay with the time-and-a-half, but I like the fact that they do provide us with a hot meal since we are taken away from our families, and provide us with 25% off of the fact we did work on this particular day,” said Wilborn.

Diane McCain worked for Walmart for ten years.

“Receiving double-pay for working on Thanksgiving would be a fair thing to do for everyone who sacrifices their holiday to be here on the job,” said McCain.

Other than pay, the other thing driving is workers being away from their families.

“That’s a pretty steep price to pay when you’re not spending time with your family on traditionally important holidays,” said Kasparian.

These days, that is happening more and more. More stores are opening on holidays, and employees are logging more hours.

Shop owner Mazen Ismail says small businesses are in trouble.

“Everything keeps going up. That cuts from everything so survival is slimmer and slimmer,” he said.

There are seven federal holidays, and that is the ultimate goal of this legislation, double pay for all of them.