The minimum wage for certain federal contractors increased to $13.65 per hour on May 11, 2026. The tipped cash wage rose to $9.55. Here are the details. First, it's important to clarify that the rate change applies to federal contracts…
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
The Department of Labor (DOL) has finalized a technical amendment restoring the 2019 overtime salary threshold to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) following two federal court decisions that invalidated the 2024 rule. For payroll teams, the amendment closes the…
A physical therapy and rehabilitation clinic in Hawaii recently learned an expensive lesson about overtime compliance after a federal investigation found it shortchanged 32 employees. The U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Wage and Hour Division investigated First Physical & Functional…
A new joint employer rule is on the table. The DOL's proposed standard could determine when your organization shares liability with another employer under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Migrant…
An Oregon restaurant recently learned a costly lesson about overtime and tip pool rules after a federal investigation found it had shortchanged 19 employees. The U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Wage and Hour Division investigated Taste of India 1, a…
An IHOP franchisee operating in North and South Carolina owes $95,095 in back wages after a DOL investigation found cooks were paid straight time for overtime hours. The agency has recently narrowed when it will pursue liquidated damages, which can…
Wage and hour litigation presents a recurring financial risk, with new data highlighting variability in employer exposure under the FLSA. A recent report from Seyfarth Shaw LLP provides benchmarks for assessing potential liability, forecasting legal spend and evaluating risk concentration…
A federal court found a worker had been misclassified and identified more than 800 hours of potential overtime. But the Fifth Circuit still upheld a jury verdict denying overtime pay. The case draws a clear line between compliance risk and…
A residential construction company in Idaho learned how payroll errors can quickly turn into significant financial exposure. After a federal wage-and-hour investigation, Speedy’s Framing LLC agreed to pay $293,698 in back wages to 56 employees, along with a $24,795 civil…
A Little Caesars franchisee will pay $409,457 for federal wage and hour violations, the Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced. The case shows how payroll mistakes turn into expensive liabilities when overtime calculations and recordkeeping controls fall short. Payroll Mistakes…
A Denver-area restaurant is paying nearly $62,000 after a DOL investigation uncovered tip retention and recordkeeping violations in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The case shows how a tip dispute can expand into broader wage-hour liability once…
If someone qualifies as exempt from the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), is an exempt classification mandatory? The Department of Labor (DOL) recently confirmed that an exempt classification isn’t a must, even if an employer is…
