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Opening Arguments

OA37: FLSA and Exempt Employees, Part 1

Opening Arguments

Opening Arguments Media LLC

Law, Opinion, Politics, News, Liberal, Legal, Supremecourt, Harvard, Atheist

4.33.7K Ratings

🗓️ 24 January 2017

⏱️ 59 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today's episode is part one of a two-part series on pending changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA").  As we've previously mentioned, in 2016, the Obama Department of Labor promulgated new rules requiring that employees who are "exempt" from the FLSA's overtime requirements must earn at least $47,476 per year.  A district court judge issued an injunction blocking those rules from going into effect; that decision is currently pending on expedited review before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.  In this episode, Andrew explains why he thinks those rules are going to eventually go into effect and what that means for employers and employees. We begin, however, with a listener correction regarding the FLSA and tipped employees.  As it turns out, Andrew mis-spoke on a prior episode and employers must ensure that an employee's total compensation (including tips) meets the federal minimum wage. After our main segment on the FLSA, the much-beloved "Are You A Cop?" segment returns with a myth about President Trump revoking the commutation of Chelsea Manning's prison sentence. Finally, we end with the answer to Thomas Takes the Bar Exam question #7 about hearsay.  Remember that TTTBE issues a new question every Friday, followed by the answer on next Tuesday's show.  Don't forget to play along by following our Twitter feed (@Openargs) and/or our Facebook Page and quoting the Tweet or Facebook Post that announces this episode along with your guess and reason(s)! Show Notes & Links
  1. The relevant provisions of the FLSA for this episode are 29 USC § 207 (maximum hours) and 29 USC § 213 (exempt employees).
  2. The DOL Fact Sheet #15 referred to listener Victoria McNair is here.
  3. This is the original rule promulgated by Obama's Department of Labor.
  4. Here is the judicial injunction blocking the implementation of the rule.
  5. And here is the judge's decision not to overturn his own injunction after a motion for reconsideration.
  6. Finally, here's the New York Times story about President Obama commuting Chelsea Manning's sentence.
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Transcript

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0:00.0

It's a great change of his feelings.

0:04.8

Well, there could be a death penalty.

0:06.3

Nothing to lawyer.

0:19.8

Seriously, when the going gets tough, you don't want to criminal lawyer.

0:23.2

All right, you want a criminal lawyer.

0:31.0

Lady Trahan's air injector box.

0:33.4

Objection.

0:34.4

In the absence of pants, defense and suspenders serve no purpose.

0:38.2

I'm going to allow them.

0:40.0

For now, thank you.

0:45.0

I'm going to be a simple country, have a chicken.

0:48.0

But I know when we're a finger-lift, what do you say we plead insanity?

0:55.0

Welcome to Opening Arguments, the podcast that pairs an inquisitive interviewer with a real-life lawyer.

0:59.8

This podcast is sponsored by the law offices of P Andrew Torres, LLC for entertainment purposes,

1:04.8

is not intended as legal advice, and does not form an attorney-client relationship.

1:08.8

Don't take legal advice from a podcast.

1:17.8

Hello, and welcome to Opening Arguments.

1:20.8

This is episode 37.

1:22.8

I'm your host Thomas Smith, and that over there is your host Andrew Torres.

1:26.8

How are you doing today, Andrew?

1:28.8

I'm great, Thomas.

1:30.8

I think you are host number one today.

...

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