New Overtime Exemption Rule: Evaluating Your Options for Compliance

By ADP

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently released a final rule that will increase the minimum salary required for administrative, professional and executive employees to be exempt from overtime. The final rule increases the minimum salary requirements first on July 1, 2024 and then again on January 1, 2025. With the first change less than two months away, now is the time to evaluate your options. Here are some guidelines for doing so.

Overview of changes

Effective July 1, 2024, the minimum salary for the administrative, professional and executive exemptions will increase from $684 per week to $844 per week (equivalent to $43,888 per year). 

Effective January 1, 2025, the minimum salary required for these exemptions will increase from $844 per week to $1,128 per week (equivalent to $58,656 per year).

Employers continue to be permitted to use non discretionary bonuses, incentive payments and commissions to satisfy up to 10 percent of the minimum salary requirement for the administrative, professional and executive exemptions, as long as these forms of compensation are paid at least annually.

Note:  Employees must also satisfy certain duties tests to be classified as exempt from overtime. The final rule didn’t change these duties tests.

Two options

If your exempt administrative, professional and executive employees’ salaries fall below the new federal salary requirement, you will generally either have to:

  • Raise their salaries to the new requirement (if you elect this option, review employees’ job duties to ensure they continue to qualify for the applicable exemption); or
  • Reclassify the affected employees as non-exempt and pay them overtime whenever they work more than 40 hours in a workweek.

Below we cover these options in detail.

Raising salaries

The option of raising salaries may be more cost-effective if the employee’s current salary is already close to the new minimum and/or they regularly work more than 40 hours per week.

If you elect to raise an exempt employee’s salary to meet the new minimum, review their job duties to ensure they continue to qualify for an exemption. You can use our calculator to estimate the costs of this option by simply entering your employees’ current salaries.

For many employers, raising employees’ salaries to the new minimum required salary may create wage compression (a situation that occurs when employees have similar salaries despite different qualifications or experience). Therefore, if you substantially increase some employees’ pay, other employees may have questions about why their pay isn’t increasing.

You should review the compensation of employees paid below the new threshold and may also want to consider, from an employee relations and financial perspective, raising the salary of other employees (particularly those paid slightly above the new required minimum) and communicate any such changes accordingly.

Reclassifying employees as non-exempt

If exempt employees don’t meet the new salary requirement, you can reclassify them as non-exempt and pay them overtime whenever they work more than 40 hours in a workweek. This option may be cost-effective if employees’ current salaries are far below the new requirement and/or they rarely work overtime.

To help determine whether it will cost less to raise employees’ salaries or reclassify the employees as non-exempt:

  • Get an accurate picture of the hours exempt employees typically work per week. Factor in peak periods for your business and all the time that is considered “hours worked.” Under federal law, employers must pay non-exempt employees not only for time actually spent working, but also for certain nonproductive time. For example, under certain circumstances, travel time and time spent performing preliminary or postliminary activities can be deemed compensable work time for non-exempt employees.
  • Use our calculator to help estimate the costs of raising salaries versus reclassifying employees.

If reclassifying employees makes the most sense for your business, you can simply convert their salary to an hourly wage (divide their weekly salary by 40 hours) and pay them overtime whenever they work more than 40 hours in a workweek. However, if these employees regularly work more than 40 hours per week and you want to keep your compensation costs the same, then you would need to account for the overtime premium when you reclassify them as non-exempt.

To take this cost-neutral approach, you can use this simple formula:

Weekly Salary

__________________________

[40 hours + (Overtime Hours Worked Per Week x 1.5)]

Here’s an example:

An exempt employee’s current salary is $770 per week, the employee regularly works 50 hours per week, and you want to convert this employee to an hourly employee but keep your costs the same. You would calculate the hourly wage as follows:

$770 Weekly Salary

______________________ = $14 hourly rate

[40 hours + (10 overtime hours x 1.5)]

Note:  Employers have the option of paying non-exempt employees on a salary basis as long as the employee is paid at least the minimum wage for all hours worked and overtime when they work over 40 hours in a workweek. If you pay non-exempt employees on a salary basis, you must ensure that all time worked is accounted for and that the employee is paid overtime when due.

Options for highly compensated employees

There is also a special exemption for “highly compensated employees” who have a total annual compensation of a specified amount and regularly perform at least one of the exempt duties or responsibilities of an exempt executive, administrative or professional employee.

Effective July 1, 2024, the minimum total compensation requirement for the exemption will increase to $132,964 per year, including at least $844 per week that must be paid on a salary or fee basis.

If your exempt highly compensated employees’ weekly salary is less than $844 as of July 1, 2024, you generally must either raise their salaries to $844 per week or reclassify them as non-exempt. If your exempt highly compensated employees’ weekly salary is at least $844 but their total annual compensation is less than $132,964 per year, you generally have three options:

  • Raise their total annual compensation to $132,964 per year (if you elect this option, review employees’ job duties to ensure they continue to qualify for the highly compensated employee exemption);
  • Reclassify the affected employees as non-exempt and pay them overtime whenever they work more than 40 hours in a workweek; or
  • Apply the full duties tests of the administrative, professional or executive exemptions. If the employee satisfies the full duties test of one of these exemptions, you can consider reclassifying them as exempt under one of these exemptions and keep your compensation costs the same by meeting the new weekly salary requirement for those exemptions, rather than raising their total annual compensation to $132,964 per year. If the employee cannot completely satisfy the full administrative, professional, or executive duties test, then select one of the first two options.

Note: Effective January 1, 2025, the minimum total compensation requirement for the exemption for highly compensated employees will increase to $151,164 per year, including at least $1,128 per week that must paid on a salary or fee basis.

Conclusion

If you have one or more exempt employees who earn a weekly salary of less than the new minimum requirement, you should evaluate your options for complying with the final rule. Keep in mind the final rule includes a mechanism to automatically update the salary and total compensation thresholds every three years. 

The final rule will likely face legal challenges. We will be monitoring the status of the rule closely and updating our FLSA and Overtime Exemption Rule Guide as any developments unfold.

The Best of Italian Design – Art Week Edition | December 4,5,6 2024


WHEN  December 4,5,6 – 2024


WHERE  Istituto Marangoni Miami (3704 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137)



The Best of Italian Design is a unique event dedicated to celebrating and displaying Italian interior design brands and Made in Italy high-end products.

The event is created for those Italian interior design companies interested in meeting with 200+ industry professionals (architects, interior designers, real estate developers) and 1000+ design lovers.

This year, the 5th edition of our signature event, “The Best of Italian Design,” will take place in the heart of the Miami Design District during Art Week Miami, which hosts over 20 international art fairs (including Art Basel and Art Miami), more than 1,200 exhibiting galleries, and tens of thousands of art and interior design lovers from all around the world: a unique opportunity to promote the Italian Design industry.

Within this context, the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce will present a 3-day event, including seminars, B2B meetings, workshops, and networking cocktails.

This is a unique opportunity to showcase your brand in one of the most important markets in the world for Italian interior design and benefit from the synergies between the Chamber, the Italian Trade Agency, the Consulate General of Italy, Instituto Marangoni Miami, and Design Industry Associations in South Florida.

To learn more about exhibiting opportunities, please click the button below:

Watch here the video of the 2023 edition of “The Best of Italian Design” in the Miami Design District

THE EVENT AT A GLANCE

The 5th edition of The Best of Italian Design includes:


EVENT PROGRAM

4-6 December 2024, every day:

4:00pm-6:00pm | NETWORKING IN THE EXPO AREA including:

  • Business meetings
  • Introduction between exhibitors and design professionals
  • Promotion opportunities to an audience of design lovers

6:00pm-7:00pm | TALKS including in the 3 days:

  • Welcome remarks by the Consul General of Italy
  • Market notes by the Italian Trade Agency
  • Open discussion with renowned architects, interior designers, and real estate developers
  • Furniture Dealers Round-Table
    THE TALKS PROGRAM WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON

7:00pm-9:00pm | NETWORKING COCKTAIL including:

  • Second Round of Business Meetings
  • Drinks and bites

EXHIBITORS

GOLD EXHIBITORS


Watch here the video testimonial of our past exhibitors:

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT  MARKETING@IACC-MIAMI.COM

EXHIBITING OPPORTUNITIES

IF YOU ARE AN ITALIAN COMPANY INTERESTED IN TAKING PART IN THE BEST OF ITALIAN DESIGN BASEL EDITION,
CHECK OUT THE EXHIBITORS’ PACKAGE TO DISCOVER
THE DIFFERENT EXHIBITING LEVELS AVAILABLE

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE EXHIBITING OPPORTUNITIES CONTACT
ALESSIA MARCENARO, DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR  MARKETING@IACC-MIAMI.COM


THE BEST OF ITALIAN DESIGN

Miami, 4-6 Dicembre 2024

Presentazione:

Nel 2023 l’export italiano verso gli USA ha registrato una forte crescita (+5,6%) rispetto al 2022, con un valore 72,9 miliardi di dollari, il miglior risultato di sempre.

In particolare, nel 2023, le esportazioni italiane di arredo ed edilizia negli Stati Uniti hanno raggiunto la cifra di 3,57 miliardi di dollari.

Per molti brand d’arredo Miami risulta ormai essere il primo mercato, superando sia New York che Los Angeles. Il mercato del real estate dell’area metropolitana di Miami è tra i più dinamici ed in crescita a livello mondiale. Il Miami Design District è il quartiere con la più alta concentrazione di showroom di arredo di alta gamma in tutti gli Stati Uniti. Miami rappresenta inoltre un punto di riferimento in ambito distributivo e logistico per l’America Latina.

È proprio per dare visibilità alle eccellenze del design italiano sull’importante piazza di Miami che la Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast organizzerà, il prossimo 4-6 dicembre nel cuore del Miami Design District, la quinta ed esclusiva edizione Art Week dell’evento “The Best of Italian Design”.

Circa 200 architetti, rivenditori e interior designer americani verranno invitati per una giornata di incontri B2B, seminari e networking con le imprese italiane.

Durante l’evento sono in programma discussioni stimolanti condotte da influenti protagonisti dell’industria dell’architettura e del design. Inoltre, i partecipanti avranno l’opportunità di partecipare a incontri B2B e ad una serata diffusa di networking organizzata in diversi showroom italiani all’interno del Miami Design District.

Il programma della quinta edizione del The Best of Italian Design si articolerà come segue:

*   Sessione B2B: apertura area expo e incontri tra espositori e visitatori professionali

*  Seminari: incontri sul settore arredo design nel Sud della Florida

*  Networking Cocktail: una serata diffusa tra gli showroom italiani di design del Miami Design District per continuare gli incontri tra operatori in compagnia di cocktail a base di liquori italiani.

Per maggiori informazioni sull’evento ed iscrizioni:

Le aziende italiane interessate a partecipare come espositori possono anche contattare la nostra Camera di Commercio all’indirizzo: marketing@iacc-miami.com

Ente organizzatore:

L’Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast (IACCSE) con sede a Miami è una organizzazione statunitense senza scopo di lucro, ufficialmente riconosciuta dal governo italiano, che si dedica alla promozione del commercio tra gli Stati Uniti e l’Italia. Fondata nel 1991, la IACCSE fa parte di Assocamerestero, l’associazione delle Camere di Commercio Italiane all’Estero. La Camera annovera una base associativa di circa 270 imprese, di origini sia italiane che americane. Alcuni dei marchi più rappresentativi del “Made in Italy” negli USA sono tra gli associati. I settori in cui operano i soci sono i più vari, dall’arredo-casa alla ristorazione, dalla meccanica alla logistica.

 

 

Barovier&Toso presents the Inspirations project dedicated to Art Déco

By Barovier & Toso Usa LLC

Barovier&Toso, one of the oldest family-owned companies in the world and pioneers in the art of Murano glassblowing unveils its latest endeavor, the Inspirations Project, aimed at celebrating the timeless elegance and sophistication of its creations. This innovative project takes a focused approach, beginning with the first chapter dedicated to the iconic Art Déco style.

The Inspirations project is a curated collection that divides Barovier&Toso’s extensive offerings into subsets, each with distinct characteristics and themes. These digital volumes, presented as mini-catalogues, serve as evocative microcosms of interior design trends, showcasing how Barovier&Toso’s creations can shape unique and sophisticated living spaces.

Within the Art Déco volume, customers, designers, and professionals are treated to a visual journey through 20 elegant and sensual collections. Paying homage to the glamorous era of the 1920s and 1930s, this chapter captures the essence of Art Déco, a style highly coveted in today’s interior decoration landscape.

The introduction of the Art Déco volume features captivating imagery sourced from the Barovier&Toso historical archive. These images highlight products that played a pivotal role in shaping the aesthetic of the Art Déco period and continue to inspire contemporary collections such as Vertigo, Metropolis, and Empire.

As the Inspirations project unfolds, future chapters will explore themes such as the timeless allure of gold and the enduring popularity of floral motifs in Murano glass. Each chapter serves as a testament to Barovier&Toso’s rich heritage and unwavering commitment to craftsmanship and innovation.

Barovier&Toso’s Inspirations project not only showcases the company’s diverse range of styles, designs, and colors but also provides customers with valuable insights and inspirations for creating sophisticated interiors. With its dedication to preserving tradition while embracing modernity, Barovier&Toso continues to captivate audiences worldwide with its unparalleled creations and timeless elegance.

Webinar in occasion of the mental health month

By Consea America

As we observe mental health awareness month, we are offering a unique 90-minute workshop on the transformative power of emotional intelligence.

You and your team can benefit by this program that will equip you with the tools to harness your EQ, effectively manage stress, and achieve your goals. It’s a small but significant way to show that we value their individual growth and well-being.

Consea America, a leading Italian Executive Search firm with offices in the US and globally, through its Human Capital Consulting Division and its partner Cometa Coaching, develops customized solutions for its clients in Talent Acquisiton , People Strategy and Management. 

As proud member, we built a special price for all the IACCSE members. If interested, please, contact us at a.cerabona@consea-group.com

Navigating the Complexities of Import-Export into the USA

By DVA Express

In the realm of international trade, where efficiency and accuracy are paramount, navigating the importation landscape between Italy and the USA presents a unique set of challenges. From fluctuating tariffs to complex customs procedures, businesses engaging in cross-border trade require robust solutions to streamline their operations. Fortunately, DVA Express services offer innovative solutions tailored to address these challenges head-on through their Easy Dogana and DVA Wine services.

Easy Dogana emerges as a game-changer in simplifying the import-export process between Italy and the USA. With its advanced analytical tools and automation, Easy Dogana empowers businesses to navigate customs duties and Harmonized System (HS) codes with ease. By providing real-time duty and tax calculations, businesses gain transparency in their logistics costs.

Central to Easy Dogana’s effectiveness is its AI-driven approach to item classification. By automating customs calculations through HS code categorization, it optimizes tax assessments and ensures precise estimations, saving time and resources while enhancing trade efficiency. Additionally, its multilingual and multi-currency capabilities facilitate effective communication and documentation, reducing risks and simplifying compliance.

Despite the allure of Italian wines and the growing demand for them in the American market, navigating the intricacies of international trade regulations, customs procedures, and logistical considerations can present significant difficulties for importers.

From securing licenses and permits to managing logistics and customs clearance, DVA Wine’s services aim to make the importation process as smooth and hassle-free as possible. Ultimately, these services facilitate access to the lucrative American wine market for Italian producers, fostering international trade relations and driving economic growth.

In a rapidly evolving global marketplace, Easy Dogana and DVA Wine stand out as beacons of innovation, offering tailored solutions to simplify import-export operations between Italy and the USA. By leveraging technology and expertise, these services empower businesses to thrive in the dynamic world of international trade, driving efficiency, and facilitating seamless global connectivity.

Re-Organization of the IACCSE in Atlanta

The Georgia Chapter of the IACCSE has recently reorganized its Executive Committee, which now consists of five well-respected entrepreneurs and professionals from the Atlanta area.

Emanuela Barzaghi, CEO of L&S Lighting Corp, will retain her position as Vice President of the IACCSE Georgia Chapter. She will be supported by four other committee members: Stefania Poli, COO of Omer USA Inc.; Filiberto Calascibetta, CPA & Partner of Rödl & Partner USA; Franco Rossi, President of Aquafil USA Inc.; and Giorgio Carrera, CEO of FAE US Inc.

The committee has appointed Mr. Nicola Vidali as Managing Director of the IACCSE- Georgia Chapter.  

Mr. Vidali brings over 35 years of experience leading various marketing and communication projects in the US. A resident of Atlanta since 1993, Nicola is deeply involved in educational, social, and civic initiatives. This appointment underscores the commitment of the Executive Committee to work for the development of a the Chapter in a state where the Italian business community has a strong  relevance.

Mr. Vidali will be supported by the Project Manager, Ms. Fabiana Calogero.

To contact the IACCSE Georgia Chapter, please send an email to atl@iaccse.com

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