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New Overtime Rule Will Go Into Effect on January 1, 2020

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The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a final rule that it says will make 1.3 million more American workers eligible for overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

The rule goes into effect on January 1, 2020. Tax-exempt organizations are not excluded and should begin planning for this change now. Even if your organization isn’t covered by the FLSA, your employees may be covered as individuals and thus eligible for overtime.

The DOL had originally planned for a new rule to go into effect in December 2016, but it was stayed by a court order a few weeks beforehand. While the final rule increases white collar exemption salary rates, the increases are smaller than in the 2016 version of the rule.

Here are the key changes in the final rule effective January 1, 2020:

  • The “standard salary level” threshold for white-collar exempt employees will increase from $455 ($23,600 per year) to $684 per week ($35,568 per year). That means starting January 1, employers will need to pay overtime to employees who earn less than $684 per week ($35,568 per year).
  • Employers can use nondiscretionary bonuses and incentive payments (including commissions) that are paid at least annually to meet up to 10% of the standard salary level.
  • The salary threshold for highly compensated employees (HCEs) will increase from $100,000 per year to $107,432 per year. This threshold applies to non-executive, administrative, or professional (EAP) employees (i.e., white collar employees) who earn at least $684 per week and whose primary duties involve performing office or non-manual work and include at least one of the duties of an EAP employee (e.g., directing the work of two or more employees). The duties test did not change from the current rule.
  • There is a special salary rate for workers in U.S. territories:
    • $380 per week for American Samoa
    • $455 per week for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
  • There also is a special “base rate” threshold of $1,043 per week for employees in the motion picture industry.

More information about the final rule is available on the DOL website.

We can assist you in determining your best course of action for minimizing the negative repercussions associated with the new salary-level test if the FLSA applies. Please contact us with questions or to learn more.

6 Comments

  • Irene says:

    Are employees with salary ranging from 40,000. – 80,000 going to be affected with this new OT rule?

    • Chris Purnell Chris Purnell says:

      Irene,

      The new overtime rules, which went into effect on January 1, 2020, raised the standard salary level (which determines who is subject to the overtime rules) from $455 per week to $684 per week. This is equal to an annualized amount of $35,568. For those who already receive more than $35,568 in annual compensation, they are already exempt from the overtime rules and thus, should experience no change. You can find more information on the US Department of Labor’s website at https://www.dol.gov/whd/overtime2019/index.htm

      -Chris Purnell, Tax Counsel
      CapinCrouse

  • Sandra Johnson says:

    Work for a home health registary i get a 1099 i work 60 hrs a week sometimes. Should i get overtime over 40 hrs

    • Chris Purnell Chris Purnell says:

      Sandra,

      Assuming you have been properly classified as an independent contractor, which is reflected in the fact that you receive a 1099, you are not subject to the overtime rules. However, if you think that you have been misclassified as an independent contractor and would be better classified as an employee, you can review several helpful resources provided by the US Department of Labor located at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa/misclassification

      -Chris Purnell, Tax Counsel
      CapinCrouse

  • Shawna L. says:

    If you’re a salaried employee of say a hotel general manager and if you’re making less than $35,568/year, if you work more than 40 hours in a week you should be paid OT.

    How does a person go about making sure this happens and they’re paid, without being singled out as a “troublemaker” etc and fear losing your job.

    • Chris Purnell Chris Purnell says:

      Hi Shawna,
      Thanks for your question. If a worker believes that they are not receiving the pay that they are entitled to under the new overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), then they can file a complaint with the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor. You can find more information about that process here: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/contact/local-offices Further, many states have specific wage claim processes that residents may utilize as well. You should review your state’s department of labor website for more information on whether that process exists for you.

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