Co-authored by Kara Goodwin and Noah Finkel

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Ninth Circuit recently joined the Second, Fourth, Eighth, and D.C. Circuits in holding that the relevant unit for determining minimum-wage compliance under the FLSA is the workweek as a whole, rather than each individual hour within the workweek.

Yes, Virginia, contrary to the contentions of some plaintiffs’ counsel, the FLSA
Continue Reading 9th Circuit’s Xerox Decision Copies Sister Circuits in Affirming Workweek Standard for FLSA Compliance

Co-authored by Robert S. Whitman and Howard M. Wexler

Seyfarth Synopsis:  The majority of courts have held that releases of FLSA rights require approval by a court or the US Department of Labor.  A recent case in the Southern District of New York highlights a dilemma employers face when seeking “finality” through DOL-approved settlements.

In Wai Hung Chan v. A
Continue Reading Money for Nothing! Court Allows Employees to Pursue Lawsuit Despite DOL Settlement

Co-authored by Cheryl Luce and Noah Finkel

Seyfarth Synopsis:  An unpopular DOL regulation that prohibits employers from retaining customer tips received another blow this summer. The Tenth Circuit joined the Fourth Circuit and several district courts in holding that the FLSA does not require employers to turn over customers’ tips to employees so long as those employees are paid at
Continue Reading The Tenth Circuit Takes the DOL Tipping Rule Off the Menu

iStock-649373572Authored by Katherine M. Smallwood

Seyfarth Synopsis: On May 8, 2017, Governor Nathan Deal signed a law expanding the reach of a pre-existing statute that prohibits Georgia localities from passing ordinances affecting worker pay in Georgia. The amendment is in line with a trend of states’ laws proactively limiting counties’ and cities’ abilities to promulgate ordinances that exceed worker
Continue Reading Georgia Governor Signs Law Preempting Predictive Scheduling Ordinances

sleeping on the jobCo-authored by Gena B. Usenheimer & Meredith-Anne Berger

Seyfarth Synopsis: A New York appeals court held that home healthcare employees who work overnight shifts are entitled to pay for all hours in a client’s home in a 24-hour period—including sleep and meal periods. The previously accepted interpretation of New York law allowed employers to pay 13 hours for a 24-hour
Continue Reading Sleeping on the Job? New York Court Finds Home Healthcare Employees Entitled to Pay for Each Hour on Overnight Shifts

Co-authored by Kyle A. Petersen and Molly C. Mooney

Seyfarth Synopsis: If Congress fails to pass a long-term funding bill, we could be facing a federal government shutdown with no money flowing to fund non-essential services. While it seems the crisis may be averted for now — with a short-term spending bill that would keep the lights on for another
Continue Reading Budget Blues: Planning for a Possible Government Shutdown

Authored by Brett Bartlett

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals recently set forth a new standard for determining whether two or more businesses may be held responsible as joint employers for overtime pay due to a single worker because they are joint employers. Although more expansive than other courts’ standards — and even more so than former Wage
Continue Reading Wait! Did the Fourth Circuit Just Define FLSA Joint Employment More Broadly Than Obama’s DOL?

Co-authored by Robert Whitman and Adam J. Smiley

Seyfarth Synopsis: Fox Searchlight and Fox Entertainment Group have reached a preliminary settlement with a group of former unpaid interns, possibly resolving the lawsuit that resulted in a Second Circuit decision that redefined the test used to evaluate whether interns are properly classified under the FLSA.

As this blog has previously reported
Continue Reading That’s a Wrap: Fox Reaches Deal with Unpaid Interns

Co-authored by Robert S. Whitman, Howard M. Wexler, and Meredith A. Berger

Seyfarth Synopsis: A district court judge within the Second Circuit held that, in light of Cheeks v. Freeport Pancake House, court or DOL approval is required for a valid dismissal of FLSA claims with prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A).

Settling FLSA
Continue Reading District Court Turns the Other “Cheeks” on Parties’ Proposed Stipulation of Dismissal

Authored by Alex Passantino

Last week proved to be a busy one in the world of wage and hour policy. First, WHD sent its final rule package to OMB for review. Then, Secretary of Labor Tom Perez testified before three Congressional committees , where he was asked about many DOL initiatives, including the overtime rule, joint employment, and independent contractors.
Continue Reading House, Senate Seek to Stop Overtime Rules