Authored by Alex Passantino

It’s the week before Christmas; ’16’s nearly done.
As we sit back and ponder the Year of 541.
The journey’s been long; it’s taken some time.
What’s happened thus far? Let us tell you in rhyme.

As the year drew anew, we sat with breath bated,
While within DOL they discussed and debated.
Should we take our proposal and set it on fire?”
“Take the percentage of time test and set the bar higher?”

“No, we meant what we said and we said what we meant,
We’ll still increase the salary, but we’ll change the percent.”
“Messing with duties will cause us nothing but trouble,
So just take the old salary, and make the new one be . . . double.”

From the moment it published, the rule came under attack.
Even Congress started plotting to take it all back.
But summer it came, then autumn did too.
And raises or OT would be in on 12/2.

With communications all drafted . . . maybe one last correction,
The narrative changed with November’s election.
Might the rules be undone by a Trump Administration?
Or would December’s due date cause such plans great frustration?

We considered . . . while preparing for our Turkey Day function,
When a court in East Texas stopped the rules by injunction.
A week before kickoff. For some ‘twas too late.
For others, they scooped up their plans and yelled “Wait!”

With more motions, appeals, and attempts to intervene,
We look at it all and ask “What does this mean?”
There’s gossip, speculation, and some wack-a-doo theories.
Apropos for a year when the Cubs won the Series.

We’ll know when we know, maybe a few days before.
More excitement is what ‘17 has in store.
But before we look forward, we’ll take one last look back.
Because wage-hour issues this year did not lack.

Some employers may feel there’s less cause for concern
When facing a lawsuit filed by an intern.
And as they consider which students their program will host,
Pay special attention to who benefits most.

California, of course, continued its wage-hour saga.
Whether sitting or standing or some thing they call PAGA.
And if plaintiffs have no trial plan, make sure you get your shots in,
Before calculating piece rate using IBM’s Watson.

Turning back east, we recall how DOL’s year went,
Beginning with January’s missive about joint employment.
A description of vertical and horizontal relations,
Should it “meet with an accident,” there’ll be standing ovations.

Spring brought a trip to SCOTUS for the service advisor.
DOL changed the reg; its explanation? “We’re wiser.”
But for positions the agency has held very long,
The Supremes told the Department “Hey, you’re doing it wrong.”

The rest of the year deserves more time to expound.
From exempt underwriters to permission to round.
And here’s hoping that someday the world will just get it,
And create a singular rule that involves the tip credit.

Decertification. Half-time. Franchise compliance.
A wide breadth of issues that appear with reliance.
But the future’s a mystery, so with great anticipation,
Happy New Year, and Thank You — Love, wagehourlitigation.