Labor Department to appeal judge’s surprise overtime ruling

The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a notice of appeal with the Texas federal court that last week halted Thursday’s scheduled implementation of new overtime rules.

Thursday’s notice of appeal, which was filed with the U.S. District Court in Sherman, Texas, said the department will appeal Judge Amos L. Mazzant III’s Nov. 22 ruling to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.

The overtime ruling would have raised the threshold for exempt employees to $913 a week, or $47,476 annually for a full-time employee, compared with the current $455 a week, or $23,660.

Judge Mazzant’s ruling, which occurred after many employers had already prepared for the ruling’s implementation, has created a great deal of uncertainty.

The Department of Labor had been expected to appeal the ruling.