white collarAs most are aware, on May 18, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released its much anticipated final rule, drastically increasing the salary requirements to qualify as an exempt executive, administrative or professional employee. The DOL estimates that the final rule will extend overtime protections to 4.2 million workers in the first year of implementation and boost wages by $12 billion over the next 10 years. The rule is set to become effective Dec. 1, 2016.
Continue Reading Challenge to the doubling of the white collar salary exemption under FLSA

keyboard_iStock_000003183204Small-computerkeyboardThe Wall Street Journal is reporting  that the Department of Labor’s new overtime regulations are not likely to be final and implemented until late 2016. As we discussed in prior posts, in June of this year the DOL proposed regulations that would significantly increase the salary basis test for most FLSA exemptions. The proposed change would make several million more employees eligible for overtime payments, which could have a significant impact on an employer’s bottom line. Many commentators and employers were anticipating the new regulations would go into effect either late this year or early 2016. According to the WSJ report, however, the DOL’s Solicitor of Labor, Patricia Smith, recently commented at a labor and employment law conference that the new regulations are not likely to be final before late 2016. According to the report, Ms. Smith noted the DOL received approximately 270,000 comments in response to the proposed regulations and that this, along with the complex nature of the changes, warranted additional time to complete the regulations.
Continue Reading DOL may delay implementation of the new FLSA regulations until late 2016

clock-timer-iStock_000023196160_LargeAfter missing several self-imposed deadlines to release new FLSA wage and hour regulations called for by President Obama, the DOL released proposed rules on Monday that will dramatically increase the number of employees eligible for overtime payments. As expected, the proposed changes focus primarily on the salary threshold for the “white-collar” exemptions to the overtime provisions of the FLSA.
Continue Reading New proposed wage and hour regulations finally released

dollar-signiStock_000013001848_LargeIn March 2014, President Obama directed the Secretary of Labor to prepare and propose new FLSA regulations. These new rules were to be announced late last year, but have been repeatedly delayed. Now it appears the new rules will be announced later this month. While the scope of the changes is unknown, it is anticipated the changes will reduce the number of employees who qualify for exempt status.
Continue Reading Changes coming to FLSA regulations – Time to get ready