A federal judge in Texas today blocked the Department of Labor’s final rule doubling the salary level used to determine whether employees are classified as exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The rule — which increases the salary level for exemptions from $23,660 to $47,476 — was set to take effect next week, on Thursday, Dec. 1.
District Judge Amos Mazzant issued an emergency injunction in a lawsuit brought by 21 states and several business groups. The order prevents the rule from taking effect nationwide pending the court’s decision on the merits of the case against DoL.