Manager's comment sparks debate on unpaid overtime, wage theft and employee rights

A Reddit user shared a story about working extra hours without pay and being told by their manager that having a job is reward enough. The post sparked debate on unpaid overtime and employer expectations. Commenters criticized the manager's stance and urged the employee to push back, emphasizing the importance of documenting requests and seeking legal advice if unpaid overtime persists.

Legal disputes over former President Donald Trump’s tariff program are a distraction for investors, according to Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group. Green urged markets to keep their attention fixed on strong corporate earnings and a resilient U.S. economy, even as the courts weigh the legality of the administration’s flagship trade policy.

A federal appeals court has ruled that most of Trump’s blanket 10% reciprocal tariffs exceed his emergency powers. While the measures remain in place until at least mid-October pending a possible Supreme Court challenge, the ruling has cast doubt on the administration’s ability to sustain its trade agenda. Green noted, "This ruling highlights a serious legal threat to one of the President’s most high-profile economic policies. But investors should not let themselves get distracted by courtroom drama. What ultimately matters for markets are the fundamentals, and those remain solid" [1].

Even if the courts strike down the current program, Green warned that the White House will likely pursue other measures to generate revenue from imports. "It would be naïve to assume this White House will simply abandon such a significant fiscal lever. Investors must factor in that some form of levy is likely to remain in play," he said [1].

Despite the legal wrangling, U.S. corporate earnings have demonstrated resilience. The S&P 500 posted year-on-year earnings growth of over 9% in Q2 2025, with more than three-quarters of companies beating Wall Street estimates. Mega-cap tech leaders such as Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon reported significant gains, while industrials and consumer giants like McDonald’s and Starbucks exceeded forecasts. The broader U.S. economy has maintained momentum, with GDP growing at an annualized 2.8% in Q2, unemployment below 4%, and inflation cooling to just above 2%, helping sustain consumer demand [1].

Markets have a history of discounting policy turbulence when earnings remain strong. Previous tariff disputes, such as those involving steel and aluminum, rattled sentiment but did not derail long-term equity performance. Green emphasized, "Corporate America continues to show that it can grow earnings and sustain profitability even under an unpredictable policy regime. These are the signals serious investors should be paying attention to—not short-term headlines about court rulings" [1].

Investors are advised to avoid reactionary moves and concentrate on companies with durable earnings streams and global reach. Green’s advice to clients is to avoid reactionary moves and concentrate on companies with durable earnings streams and global reach. "We urge investors not to get caught in the noise. Keep your eyes fixed on quality names with strong balance sheets, durable earnings streams, and global reach," he said [1].

While tariff policy may evolve, deVere expects the administration will continue to pursue trade-related revenue strategies. For investors, the focus must remain on fundamentals. "Markets will always have political and legal dramas. But wealth is built by those who can see beyond them to the real drivers of returns. Fundamentals must remain the compass," Green concluded [1].

References:
[1] https://financefeeds.com/devere-ceo-trump-tariff-legal-battles-are-noise-earnings-and-economy-drive-wealth/