“The Obama administration proved true to form when it ordered the Department of Labor to revise its interpretation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Namely, the administration assumes that through force of will alone, it could order a new economic reality into existence. The finalized overtime rule hurts the American worker. It limits workplace flexibility without a corresponding increase in pay and forces employers to cut their workers hours. All in all, it exchanges the advantages of negotiated benefits, personal to each worker, with a one-size-fits-all standard that only looks good in press statements. Not on my watch.”

What Next?

The injunction halts enforcement of the new federal overtime rules until the government can win a countermanding order from an appeals court. With the Republican sweep over control of both houses of Congress, the DOL will be facing quite a battle to win back the ability to require implementation of the now blocked overtime rules.