Womble Employment Law Blog

Updated, September 19, 2017:  The 2016 "white collar" regulations were struck down in federal court, and never became effective. On July 6, 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued proposed new regulations that will significantly change the law governing certain “white collar” workers who are exempt from minimum wage and overtime pay.   All employers need to become familiar with these proposed rules, which may, if they become final, greatly impact wages and overtime pay to workers.   In addition, for those that want to have their voices heard, there is still time (until September 4, 2015) for the public to make formal comments to the DOL. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), which is the federal wage and hour law, some employees may be classified as “exempt” from the Act’s minimum wage and overtime pay requirements.    The most well-known and commonly used exemptions are the so-called “white collar” exemptions applicable to executive, administrati

Keep an eye on your email inboxes and spam folders.  The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently announced that it has begun a pilot program to send electronic notices of discrimination charges.  The program is called "ACT Digital" and is intended to make responding to charges more efficient and cost effective. The pilot program is beginning in 11 EEOC offices, centered in North Carolina and the Southeast, and moving to larger offices in Midwestern and Western states.  They are the following: Charlotte; Greensboro; Greenville; Norfolk; Raleigh; Richmond; Detroit, Indianapolis; Phoenix; Denver; and San Francisco.  The EEOC states that the system is secure, and that documents and information will be accessible only by password.  Using the system, employers will be able to download charges, submit a position statement, and communicate with the EEOC.  The Commission has published a Q&A document for ACT Digital, which can be found  here . Employers in the p