The U.S. Department of Labor has restored the 2019 overtime exemption rules under the Fair Labor Standards Act, giving employers clearer ground after a federal court vacated the 2024 rule. The restored standards set the salary threshold for most exempt executive, administrative and professional employees at $684 per week, with the highly compensated employee threshold back at $107,432 annually. The change is effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register.

“HR teams have had enough regulatory whiplash,” said Dave O’Neil, director of communications for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “This is a good moment for employers to double-check classifications, salary levels and job duties, because the best time to fix a compliance issue is before it becomes one.” 5/26/2026