By Kate McGovern Tornone, Editor
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill September 28 that would delay new Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime regulations by 6 months; a similar bill was introduced in the Senate the same day. Experts, however, say employers shouldn’t expect a reprieve.
 |
The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) rule would drastically expand the number of workers eligible for overtime pay. Beginning December 1, employers must pay overtime to employees who learn less than $913 per week ($47,476 annually)—more than a 100% increase above the current threshold.
H.R. 6094, the Regulatory Relief for Small Businesses, Schools, and Nonprofits Act, passed the house 246-177. If enacted, it would push the rule’s effective date back to June 1, 2017.
A companion bill introduced yesterday in the Senate would do the same thing. Senator James Lankford (R-OK), the bill’s prime sponsor, said he ultimately would like to see the rule revised but in addressing the Senate September 29, said to lawmakers: “at a minimum, let’s delay it.”