NLBMDA members should contact their Representative and Senators asking them to support a bipartisan compromise to the Overtime Rule, the Overtime Reform and Enhancement Act (H.R. 5813), which would incrementally phase in the new threshold over a three-year period, beginning with a 52 percent increase this December, and more gradual increases in December 2017, 2018 and 2019. The legislation would also remove the automatic increase to the threshold.
In May, DOL announced a final rule that will dramatically increase the number of employees eligible for overtime pay. The rule increases the salary level under which full-time salaried “white collar” employees qualify for overtime pay from $455 per week ($23,660 annually) to $913 per week ($47,476 annually).
The rule is set to take effect on December 1. In addition, the threshold will automatically adjust every three years and be based on the 40th percentile of average earnings for salaried workers in the lowest wage census region, which is currently the South. This means DOL will next increase the threshold levels to take effect on January 1, 2020, and post the new salary levels 150 days in advance of the effective date (August 1, 2019).
Time is of the essence as Congress is expected to leave Washington this week and not return until mid-November. NLBMDA asks all dealers to contact their lawmakers in support of H.R. 5813, a bipartisan solution to reducing the impacts of the Overtime Rule.
If you have any question please contact Ben Gann, NLBMDA‘s Vice President of Legislative and Political Affairs, at ben@dealer.org.