Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a regulatory change that is expected to have major impact. The new rules raise the salary level below which employees are entitled to overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Effective December 1, 2016, the new salary threshold for exemption from overtime pay under the FLSA is $913/week ($47,476/year), slightly more than double the current level. Workers paid less than the threshold generally will not be exempt, and employers will be required to pay overtime to those employees when they work more than 40 hours in a week.
It is important for you to understand these changes. The rules can be complex, and there are some technical exceptions that will apply to some employers. Failure to pay proper wages now can expose your organization to retroactive overtime pay and administrative penalties later. The number of FLSA lawsuits has grown in recently years, a trend that could accelerate as a result of the new rules.
PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE THESE NEW RULES!
We expect many nonprofits still will have questions and that’s where our new hotline fits in.
If you have questions about the new regulations and their effect on your workforce, you may complete a simple INTAKE FORM and request a free one-hour legal consultation via telephone with an attorney. If needed, nonprofits can request an additional one-hour follow-up call. The hotline is open to groups throughout the country and will be administered by Lawyers Alliance for New York. Nonprofits are encouraged to consult with local counsel regarding state overtime rules, as these consultations will only cover federal rules. See the intake form and press release for more details.
The Law Project is a member of the National Network and pleased to be part of this collaborative effort to assist nonprofits that are improving quality of life for low-income and disadvantaged people.
I encourage you to take advantage of this resource,
