🏠Proposed Revision to Domestic Service Labor Regulations
In 1974, Congress applied the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to "domestic service" employees, but exempted employees who provide "companionship services" from the minimum wage and overtime requirements and also exempted live-in domestic service employees from overtime. In 1975, the Department promulgated regulations defining companionship services and permitting third party employers to claim these exemptions. These regulations remained substantially unchanged for nearly 40 years. In 2013, the Department revised the regulations to narrow the definition of companionship services and prevent third party employers from claiming either of the exemptions. Because the Department is concerned that the 2013 regulations might not reflect the best interpretation of the FLSA and might discourage essential companionship services by making these services more expensive, the Department is proposing to return to the 1975 regulations. This summary can be found at https://www.regulations.gov by searching by the RIN: 1235-AA51.
Learn More💼2025 Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment - Labor Impact
The U.S. Department of Labor (Department) is publishing this final rule to adjust for inflation the civil monetary penalties assessed or enforced by the Department, pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 as amended by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Inflation Adjustment Act). The Inflation Adjustment Act requires the Department to annually adjust its civil money penalty levels for inflation no later than January 15 of each year. The Inflation Adjustment Act provides that agencies shall adjust civil monetary penalties notwithstanding section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Additionally, the Inflation Adjustment Act provides a cost- of-living formula for adjustment of the civil penalties. Accordingly, this final rule sets forth the Department's 2025 annual adjustments for inflation to its civil monetary penalties.
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