Us Congress Senate Bill SJR97

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/13/24
• Refer: 6/13/24

Caption

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees".

Impact

The potential passage of SJR97 could lead to significant changes in state labor laws and regulations regarding the aforementioned employee classifications. By disapproving the Department of Labor's rule, Congress would be reverting back to potentially more lenient definitions of what constitutes exempt employees, affecting how various workers are classified across states. This could lead to variations in employees' rights to overtime wages and dictate how businesses manage their labor force nationally, which may create inconsistencies in applications between states and undermine employee protections.

Summary

SJR97 is a joint resolution introduced in the U.S. Senate aimed at disapproving a rule submitted by the Department of Labor regarding the definition and delimitation of exemptions for executive, administrative, professional, outside sales, and computer employees. This rule was published in the Federal Register on April 26, 2024, and this resolution asserts that it shall have no force or effect should it be enacted. The resolution signifies Congress's attempt to exert its influence over labor regulations, specifically concerning employee classifications and definitions that impact overtime pay eligibility and other labor standards.

Contention

Notably, this resolution may cause contention in legislative debates, as supporters argue that the current definitions provided by the Department of Labor could impose undue regulations on businesses, particularly small enterprises. They claim that the flexibility in employee classification is essential for economic growth and job creation. Conversely, opponents of SJR97 may view this disapproval as a step backward, arguing that clarity and protection for workers are vital and that allowing a more expansive interpretation hampers workplace rights, especially for vulnerable employees in non-traditional work arrangements.