By Ali Tozier, Associate

With the start of 2020, we’re seeing some recent updates to wage law that you may want to be aware of, whether you’re an employer or an employee.

In December, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule clarifying (for the first time in 60 years) the types of benefits employees are entitled to when it comes to overtime pay. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employees who are eligible for overtime pay must be paid at least one and a half times their regular pay rate when working over 40 hours in a week. There has been confusion in determining which benefits provided by employers should be included in determining an employee’s regular rate of pay, and the new rule outlines which benefits employers may exclude. A full list of these exemptions can be viewed in this article from the National Law Review.

Here in Maine, January 1st marked a $1-per-hour pay raise for many workers across the state, as we enter the final phase of a statewide minimum wage increase from $7.50 to $12 per hour since 2016.

We know changes like this can mean lots of questions from both employers and employees. If you’re an employer that needs help putting proper protocol in place, or if you’re an employee who believes you’re being treated unfairly, get in touch with our employment law attorneys to see how we can help.