Overtime in New Jersey? They May be, at
Least For Now
October 26, 2011 by Michael N. Morea
Last month, new overtime exemption rules of the New Jersey Department of Labor and
Workforce Development (“NJDOL”) became effective. These new rules are intended to
bring overtime exemptions under the New Jersey Wage and Hour Law (“NJWHL”) in line
with the 2004 revisions to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act rules, by repealing the
existing state overtime exemption rules and replacing them with the analogous federal
exemptions. NJDOL accomplished this by revising N.J.A.C. 12:56-7.2 to remove the
definitions of the various overtime exemptions and adopted by reference the counterpart
in the Code of Federal Regulations (“CFR”), specifically 29 CFR 541.
However, in an apparent omission, by adopting 29 CFR 541, the NJDOL removed the
state exemption for inside salespersons. The NJWHL inside salesperson exemption had
provided that salespeople who received at least 50% of their total compensation from
commissions and earned more than $400 per week, fell under the administrative
exemption to overtime. Federal regulations provide a similar exemption, but that
exemption is found in a different section of the regulations, not 29 CFR 541.
NJDOL has indicated that the removal of the inside salesperson exemption was not
intended and that it is working on rectifying the situation. In the meantime, however,
certain employees who were previously exempt from overtime are, at least for the time
being, apparently entitled to receive it.
New Jersey employers who have inside salespersons who were previously exempt from
overtime should consult legal counsel to determine how best to handle overtime for such
employees, until the state rules are revised.
Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard, P.A.
Court Plaza North
25 Main Street
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: (201) 489-3000
900 Third Avenue
16th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212) 752-8000
500 Delaware Avenue
Suite 1410
Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (302) 652-3131
300 East Lombard Street Suite 2000
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410) 230-0660
301 Commerce Street
Suite 1700
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Phone: (817) 810-5250
If you are seeking an Executive Coach for yourself or your organization, consider contacting CB Bowman, MBA, CMC at Executive Leadership, LLC 908.509.1744 cb@exec-leadershipllc.com; http://www.exec-leadershipllc.com.
CB Bowman, ia a Certified Master Coach and president, CEO of Executive Leadership, LLC. She is also the Chairperson and Founder for the Association of Corporate Executive Coaches (http://www.acec-website.org).
Among mid to senior level professionals Executive leadership LLC is the go to company for individuals and companies seeking human capital repositioning, development and/or growth through coaching, counseling, and strategic advice.
With her Fortune 500 business background, laser like precision, and a take no prisoners approach she swiftly narrows in on the issue, and unlike others, she presents financially sound, creative and action oriented solutions with infinite possibilities
