WASHINGTON, DCIn this weeks address, President Obama highlighted the action he took this week to reward hard work by strengthening overtime pay protections. As part of this year of action, the President has ordered the Secretary of Labor to modernize our countrys overtime rules to ensure that millions of American workers are paid a fair wage for a hard days work. While our economy is moving forward, the middle class and those fighting to get into it are still struggling and too many Americans are working harder than ever just to keep up, let alone get ahead. So, in consultation with workers and business, the Obama Administration will update and simplify the rules to reward hard work and responsibility.

The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House March 15, 2014

Hi, everybody. In this year of action, Im doing everything I can, with or without Congress, to expand opportunity for more Americans. This week, I ordered a review of our nations overtime rules, to give more Americans the chance to earn the overtime pay theyve worked for.

Heres why this matters. Our businesses have created 8.7 million new jobs over the past four years. But in many ways, the trends that have battered the middle class for decades have grown even starker. Whilethose at the top are doing better than ever, average wages have barely budged. Too many Americans are working harder than ever just to keep up.

Weve got to build an economy that works for everybody, not just a fortunate few. We know from our history that our economy grows best from the middle out, when growth is more widely shared. So weve got to restore opportunity for all the idea that with hard work and responsibility, you can get ahead.

Now, for more than 75 years, the 40-hour workweek and the overtime protections that come with it have helped countless workers climb the ladder of success. But today, an overtime exception originally meant for highly-paid employees now applies to workers who earn as little as $23,660 a year. It doesnt matter if you do mostly physical labor, or if you work 50, 60, even 70 hours a week. Your employer may not have to pay you a single extra dime.

In some cases, this rule makes it possible for workers earning a salary to actually be paid less than the minimum wage. And it means that business owners who treat their employees fairly can be undercut by competitors who dont. Thats not right. So were going to update those overtime rules to restore that basic principle that if you have to work more, you should be able to earn more. And well do it by consulting workers and businesses, and simplifying the system so its easier for everyone.

Americans have spent too long working more and getting less in return. So wherever and whenever I can make sure that our economy rewards hard work and responsibility, thats what Im going to do. Because what every American wants is a paycheck that lets them support their families, know a little economic security, and pass down some hope and optimism to their kids. Thats something worth fighting for. And Ill keep fighting for it as long as Im President.

Thanks, and have a great weekend.