PIA Expresses Concern on Proposed Overtime Regs

PIA has joined with a coalition of 163 cosigners in sending a letter urging members of Congress to contact Administration officials, and urge them to reconsider proposed changes to overtime pay requirements. On June 30, 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor proposed to amend overtime regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The changes would be made to the exemptions for executive, administrative, and professional employees (the “white collar exemptions”).

The Department proposes more than doubling the salary level required to qualify for the white collar exemptions, from $455 per week/$23,660 per year to $970 per week/$50,440 per year. DOL also proposes automatically increasing this minimum salary going forward on an annual basis and publishing the increased minimum salary only 60 days before it becomes effective, with no opportunity for comment or input from employers who will have to comply. The Department is expected to finalize the rule in mid-to-late 2016.

What It Means to Agents: PIA is concerned that the proposed regulations will have unintended consequences for insurance agents and agencies. The proposed regulation, while well intentioned, will be unnecessarily burdensome for PIA member agencies leading to decreased opportunity and flexibility for agency employees.