On July 15, 2015, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued guidance which it claims is designed to reduce the misclassification of employees as independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”).
Continue Reading DOL Issues Guidance Claiming Most Workers Are Employees – Not Independent Contractors – Under the FLSA

On April 1, 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit decided Alvarado v. Corporate Cleaning Serv., Inc., 2015 WL 1456573 (7th Cir. Apr. 1, 2015), an important decision interpreting the Fair Labor Standards Act’s overtime requirements.
Continue Reading Seventh Circuit Reins in Overtime in Alvarado v. Corporate Cleaning Serv., Inc.

During his most recent State of the Union Address on January 28, 2014, President Barack Obama stated that one of his top priorities in the coming year was to address what he described as “stagnant wages.”  More importantly, he warned Congress that if they did not take steps to tackle the issue soon, he was prepared to attempt to address the issue unilaterally through exercise of his executive power.Continue Reading President Obama Directs Department of Labor to Revise FLSA Overtime Exemptions

President Barack Obama is expected today to direct the Department of Labor to revise its wage-payment regulations so that more workers will receive overtime compensation.
Continue Reading President Expected To Increase The Number of Employees Eligible To Receive Overtime Compensation

Employers who hold their breath and declare an employment position as “exempt” from the Fair Labor Standards Act’s overtime previsions − all the while knowing that the exempt v. non-exempt question is a close call − should take a simple step to save themselves substantial damages should a court later rule the position non-exempt.

When entering into an employment arrangement with the employee, the employer should obtain the employee’s acknowledgement in writing that the employee’s weekly hours may fluctuate, and that each weekly portion of the employee’s annual salary will constitute payment for all hours worked during that week.Continue Reading One Tweak To Offer Letters Could Save Millions

In a recent decision, a federal district court judge held that Abbott Laboratories, Inc.’s pharmaceutical sales representatives do not qualify for either the outside sales or administrative exemptions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”).  Under the FLSA, employers are required to pay overtime for hours worked over 40 in a week, unless an employee qualifies for an exemption under the Act. While the FLSA contains many such exemptions, the most commonly used exemptions are the executive, outside sales, and administrative exemptions.  Each exemption has specific requirements that must be met.Continue Reading Sales Representatives’ Overtime Lawsuits Continue To Result In Conflicting Decisions