The Employer’s Wage and Hour Advisor

The U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) is poised to make significant changes this year to various wage-and-hour regulations interpreting the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). The changes are expansive and include both the already released independent-contractor test and increases to the salary threshold for white collar exemptions. These changes will effect employers across the country in all industries. Nonetheless, they are not going unchallenged. The expected legal challenges to the changes have already begun and will likely continue to mount.

As always, the New Year came with a slew of new state wage and hour laws. Among other things, this year ushered in increased wages and continued trends in employee rights and protections.  Below are some of the new changes that employers should consider when implementing their employment practices.