This week, we’re taking a look at the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) new white-collar overtime exemption and worker classification rules and the U.S. government’s updated race and ethnicity categorizations.

DOL’s Overtime Rule Coming Soon

Employers can expect the DOL’s white-collar exemption rule as early as this month. The agency started the clock on March 1, 2024, when it submitted the final rule to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.

DOL Worker Classification Rule Takes Effect

The DOL’s “independent contractor” rule, which went into effect on March 11, 2024, reinstates the multifactor test that was scrapped under the Trump administration, expands the criteria for who is an employee rather than an independent contractor, and adopts a “totality of the circumstances” approach.

U.S. Government Changes Race and Ethnicity Categorization

For the first time in 27 years, the U.S. government is changing how it categorizes race and ethnicity. The change will impact a wide range of federal reporting, from the census to EEO-1 data collection.