Holiday Party Etiquette, OT Rule & Obamacare Updates

Every year around this time, I enjoy sending everyone a reminder about Holiday Etiquette. This year I’ll offer an abbreviated version at the end, so I can first update you on the OT rule and the -now more precarious- fate of Obamacare.

OT Rule

As you read here, the OT rule (raising the min salary for exempt workers to$ 47, 476) was blocked by an injunction days before being implemented on Dec 1st . Many affected employees -who’d been told they’d get a salary raise but had it withdrawn, were very unhappy. Others were relieved they would not be made hourly. Overall, a disruptive situation for employers and workers.

So as widely expected, last week the Dept of Labor filed an appeal to reverse the injunction. But unless the appellate court expedites the process, the outcome won’t be known until well after inauguration. The new administration has appointed a new Secretary of Labor, who is not expected to continue to defend the rule. What’s next? My guess is we won’t know the outcome for months, so continue to stand by.

Obamacare

After the election, most policy wonks believed that Republicans would need 60 votes (they have 52) to repeal Obamacare. But it now looks like they can kill it by simply not funding it (thru appropriation) which only requires 51 votes.

So, will they Repeal and Replace after all? Well, currently Republicans don’t have a replacement so critics are calling it Repeal and Delay (or Repeal and “We’ll get back to you” if you have a sense of humor). But many observers worry that the uncertainty is going to destabilize the insurance marketplace which already has some problems. The Obamacare issue is much bigger than the scope of this column (the workplace), but let’s hope they compromise and fix it instead of scrapping it.

On a lighter note, here’s a holiday party etiquette refresher, read the full version here.

For Employees

DO show up.

DO mingle.

DON’T get hammered.

DON’T be a downer.

For Millennials

DO assume your picture will be taken

DON’T check your phone constantly.

Don’t overshare.

For Employers

DO acknowledge and celebrate successes.