Week of November 15, 2024 | SSG Insights

DOL Issues Opinion Letter About Excluding Expense Payments From Employees’ Pay Rate for FLSA Overtime Calculations

On Nov. 8, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division issued an opinion letter explaining whether daily expense payments for tools and equipment may be excluded from regular rate calculations for overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Key Drivers of 2025 Health Care Cost Increases

Health care costs are projected to increase substantially in 2025. Estimates show a similar growth in spending to 2024, marking multiple years of compounding costs. Specifically, health care costs in the United States are likely to increase by 7%-8% in 2025. This SSG Insight discusses key factors that will impact rising health care costs.