Uncertainty and litigation have ensued in the wake of the Department of Labor’s May 5, 2011 Final Rule regarding application of the fluctuating workweek method of overtime compensation (FWW) authorized by 29 CFR § 778.114, specifically the Rule’s commentary on the payment of incentive compensation to employees compensated via FWW.  In a thorough recent decision,

The technical requirements for paying overtime pursuant to the fluctuating workweek method set forth in 29 C.F.R. § 778.114, can be confusing. The regulation, for example, discusses an employee and employer having a clear mutual understanding that overtime will be paid pursuant to the fluctuating workweek (FWW) method. In a new decision analyzing the FWW method,

The requirements of paying overtime to a non-exempt employee pursuant to the fluctuating workweek method are generally straightforward and set forth in 29 C.F.R. 778.114:  (1) the employee’s hours must fluctuate from week to week; (2) the employee must receive a fixed salary that is sufficient to provide compensation at a regular rate that is