The Supreme Court on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, declined to take up a decision addressing the president’s authority under the Procurement Act to issue a minimum wage mandate for employees working on federal government contracts. The denial of the petition for certiorari keeps a circuit split intact, and leaves federal contractors to navigate the wage
Wage and Hour
Proposed Rule Would End Subminimum Wage for Employees with Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a proposed rule to end the practice of paying subminimum wages to certain workers with disabilities.
The proposed rule, announced December 3, 2024, marks the first rulemaking related to the subminimum wage in 35 years, although the regulation had been included in the DOL’s long-term regulatory agenda…
DOL Opinion Letter Addresses Expense Reimbursement and Regular Rate
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has released an opinion letter addressing whether per diem expense payments for tools and equipment may be excluded from the hourly rate when calculating overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). (FLSA 2024-01, Nov. 8, 2024).
While the opinion letter doesn’t break new ground, it’s…
U.S. Supreme Court considers standard for proving an FLSA exemption applies
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Tuesday, November 5, on the standard of proof that employers must meet to show an employee is exempt from the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
There are two competing choices: preponderance of the evidence or “clear and convincing” evidence. Every…
Texas District Court Blocks DOL Rule Increasing Salary Level for Exempt Employees. But Rule Enjoined as to State of Texas Employees Only (For Now)
In a strongly worded opinion, a federal judge in Texas held the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) likely exceeded its authority in implementing its Final Rule raising the minimum salary level requirements for executive, administrative, and professional (EAP) exemptions to the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). State of…
Legal Challenges Mount to DOL Rule Raising Salary Threshold for Exempt Employees
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Final Rule raising the minimum salary level requirements for application of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) “white collar” exemptions is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2024. Lawsuits, however, have been filed seeking to invalidate and set aside the Final Rule and to block the increased salary thresholds from…
As expected, Biden re-nominates Acting DOL Secretary Julie Su to permanent post
President Joe Biden on Monday, January 8, 2024, sent to the Senate the nomination of Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su to serve as permanent DOL Secretary. President Biden previously had signaled his intent to send the nomination back to the Senate after it failed in the last session.
Biden first nominated Su last spring…
Nomination of Acting DOL Secretary Julie Su is Sent Back to the White House
The nomination of Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su to serve as permanent DOL Secretary has been returned to the White House after failing to garner sufficient support to clear a path to confirmation by the full Senate, according to media reports.
President Biden nominated Su last spring to replace former DOL Secretary Marty Walsh…
DOL Aims for April 2024 Release of White-Collar Exemption Final Rule
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) unveiled its semi-annual regulatory agenda on December 6, 2023, which sets an April 2024 date for release of the agency’s anticipated final rule amending the regulations defining the “white collar” exemptions from the overtime and minimum wage requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
The DOL released its…
DOL Proposed White-Collar Exemption Rule Sets Minimum Salary Over $55K
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued its long-anticipated proposed rule to increase the minimum salary requirements for the “white collar” exemptions (executive, administrative, and professional) from minimum wage and overtime pay requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Under the proposed rule, the salary level for the white-collar exemptions to apply will…