Earlier this week, a decision by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York vacated several key aspects of the U.S. Department of Labor’s (“DOL”) final rule implementing the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”). (For those who are unfamiliar with the FFCA, an overview can be found here.) The decision
DOL Clarifies Regular Rate
For the first time in 50 years the Department of Labor has issued a Final Rule attempting to clarify the overtime regular rate. The Final Rule focuses primarily on clarifying whether certain kinds of benefits or “perks,” and other miscellaneous items must be included in the regular rate. Since the DOL’s last overtime regular rate
U.S. Department of Labor Announces Proposed Rules Regarding Tip Credits and Tip Pooling
On Monday, October 7, 2019, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued new proposed rules regarding the circumstances in which employers may (1) apply a “tip credit” to satisfy their minimum-wage obligations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) and (2) permit non-tipped employees to participate in mandatory tip-pooling arrangements.
1. The Proposed Rules abolish the
The Long-Awaited Overtime Rule Is Here
Today, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) announced its final rule to increase overtime pay for salaried employees. The new rule lifts the annual salary threshold from $455 per week ($23,600 annually) to $684 per week ($35,568 annually). The rule also raises the annual compensation requirement for highly compensated employees (“HCE”) from $100,000 per year to
Drug Testing for Unemployment Applicants May Be Coming Soon
Under a new rule being advanced by the U.S. Department of Labor, applicants for unemployment benefits may soon have to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits. The rule, which has been a source of significant controversy, recently moved closer to becoming a reality when the DOL sent it to the federal budget
DOL Provides Guidance for Employers Seeking to Avoid FLSA Liability
As previously reported in the Labor & Employment Law Navigator, the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the Department of Labor reinstituted its practice of issuing opinion letters in April of last year. Recently issued opinion letters continue to provide helpful guidance for employers on a number of wage and hour issues.
Certain Paralegals May
DOL TO REQUIRE MORE FINANCIAL REPORTS FROM UNIONS
On May 30, 2019, the Office of Labor-Management Standards (“OLMS”) within the U.S. Department of Labor issued a notice seeking comments on a proposed rule that would require labor organizations to submit annual financial reports for trusts in which the labor organization has an interest.
The OLMS oversees the financial disclosure statements required of labor
Not an April Fool’s Day Joke – Labor Department Proposes Regulation to Limit Joint Employer Wage and Hour Liability
On April 1, the U.S. Department of Labor proposed a new regulation for determining a company’s joint employer status under the Fair Labor Standards Act. When two companies are deemed joint employers, they share responsibility for the workers’ wages, which include the payment of minimum wages and overtime. Under the new rule, the Labor Department
Department of Labor Comment Period Officially Opens For Overtime Rule Changes
Earlier today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the official publication of the proposed changes to the federal overtime rules. This announcement is significant because it triggers the start of the 60-day period for public comments in favor of and opposed to the rule changes. The comment period will remain open until May 21, after
New DOL Regulations Regarding Disability Claims to Take Effect April 1, 2018
Employers should take note that on April 1, 2018 more rigorous Department of Labor (“DOL”) regulations take effect governing the administration of benefit claims and ensuing appeals under ERISA plans providing disability benefits. (“ERISA” refers to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the federal law governing private sector employee benefit plans). These regulatory