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In Opinion Letter FLSA2021-7, the second of four opinion letters released today, the U.S. Department of Labor clarified that journalists – no matter whether they work for a major newspaper or small-town community paper – may qualify for the creative professional exemption. In order to qualify, journalists must have a primary duty that requires,…

Here’s one I didn’t see coming – the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued Opinion Letter FLSA2021-6 today, along with three others (see my other blog posts), which concluded that staffing firms that recruit, hire, and place employees on temporary assignments with clients may qualify as a “retail or service establishment” for purposes of an…

On January 8, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued opinion letter FLSA2021-1.  Spoiler alert – the DOL determined that account managers at a life science products manufacturer were properly classified as exempt from overtime based on the administrative exemption. These employees have at least a bachelor’s degree in a life science (or…

As I blogged about a few months ago, on September 22, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a proposed rule simplifying the test to determine whether a worker is considered an “employee” under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or an “independent contractor”. On January 6, 2021, the DOL announced the final rule…

On November 3, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division issued opinion letter FLSA2020-16, regarding the compensability of travel time for non-exempt (hourly) foreman and laborers. These are issue that frequently arise with construction employers, so it is nice the DOL has finally provided some additional guidance.  Especially where, as the…

On November 3, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division issued opinion letter FLSA2020-15 regarding compensation under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for time employees spend attending voluntary training programs such as outside, ongoing continuing education classes (CEUs). The employer at issue is a non-profit hospice care provider with clinical…

On September 22, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a proposed rule simplifying the test to determine whether a worker is considered an “employee” under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or an “independent contractor”. In short, the proposed rule uses the “economic reality” test as the basis for whether a worker is…

On August 31, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued an opinion letter addressing whether employees’ hours must fluctuate above and below 40 hours per week to qualify for the fluctuating workweek method (FWM) of calculating overtime pay. Although this post is primarily for employers who have already instituted the FWM, if you’re curious…

On June 26, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2020-4, addressing employee paid leave under the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) to care for a child whose summer camp, enrichment or other program is closed due to COVID-19. The FFCRA allows an employee up to 10 weeks…