Through proposed revisions to the “white collar” overtime exemption regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the U.S. Department of Labor is seeking to raise the current minimum salary for exemption from $455 per week ($23,660 annualized) to $679 per week ($35,308 annualized). Additionally, the total annual compensation requirement for “highly compensated employees” would increase to $147,414 per year.   

The DOL estimates its proposal will make more than one million new workers eligible for overtime pay, but does not include automatic increases to the minimum salary level or the highly compensated test. If finalized, the proposal would replace the 2016 final rule issued by the DOL under the Obama administration, and then blocked in federal court from taking effect.