How Will the Change in Presidency Affect Overtime Laws?

With the election of Donald Trump as our new president, many people have questions concerning how wage laws will be affected by the new administration. Recently, a Texas court halted the implementation of the new overtime rules set to become effective December 1st. More than 4 million workers would have been newly eligible for time-and-a-half pay under the rule. However, the rule is now suspended and with the Trump administration taking over in a lttle under two months, proponents of the law have doubts whether the change in overtime rules will be implemented.

Begining on January 20, 2017, a new Secretary of Labor will oversee all federal employment initiatives and laws. However, despite the transition, the bedrock principles of the FLSA will likely remain the same, i.e. that all workers are entitled to earn at least minimum wage, and those non-exempt employees that work more than 40-hours in any work week are entitled to overtime pay at a rate of one and one-half their standard rate of pay. Further, a main source of FLSA violations come from misclassifications – where employers designate a worker as exempt (not entitled to overtime pay) when they should be considered non-exempt and allowed to earn premium wages for overtime work. These general distinctions will also likely remain in place. However, minor changes and revisions may occur. As experienced wage and hour lawyers, our firm will closely follow and report on all major developments.

For more information or if you have any wage and hour questions, please contact the experienced Atlanta wage and hour lawyers at Buckley Bala Wilson Mew LLP for an immediate case evaluation.