Tag: U.S. Department of Labor

By: Sheila Raftery Wiggins

The U.S. Department of Labor’s new regulations are effective on Dec. 1, 2016. The new regulations impact exempt employees, federal overtime pay and minimum wage requirements.

Significantly, nondiscretionary bonuses, commissions and incentive payments may be used to satisfy up to 10 percent of the minimum standard salary requirement if these payments are paid on a quarterly or more frequent basis.

Highly compensated employees (“HCEs”) are exempt from federal overtime pay and minimum wage if the employee currently has a minimum salary threshold of $100,000 per year. HCEs must receive at least the full standard salary amount each pay period on a salary basis without regard to the payment of nondiscretionary bonuses and incentive payments. Yet, nondiscretionary bonuses and incentive payments (including commissions) will count toward the total annual HCE compensation requirement.

If an employee does not earn enough in nondiscretionary bonuses and incentive payments (including commissions) in a given quarter to retain their exempt status, the employer may provide a “catch-up” payment at the end of the quarter to make up for the shortfall (up to 10 percent of the standard salary level for the preceding 13-week period).

ACT PROMPTLY: Consider your business, the structure of the incentive pay and how employees are classified – less than six months until the Dec. 1, 2016 regulations are effective.

Sheila Raftery Wiggins, of the Newark office, handles matters involving complex commercial disputes, insurance defense, coverage disputes, financial fraud, and attorney ethics.