A new Department of Labor overtime rule could go into effect as soon as Dec. 1, 2016, and MedHQ can guide your surgery center through the rule change, ensuring you are informed and well prepared.
The new rule will require employers to pay overtime to salaried employees making less than $47,476 per year, and will extend overtime pay protection to over 4 million workers across the country. Even though the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would postpone the Dec. 1 effective date, and Senate action is pending, ASCs must be prepared.
For the most part, ASCs employ hourly workers. But there are exceptions. “Any time the Department of Labor issues a new rule, there are various moving parts, and it is critical that our partner ASCs are kept abreast of the ins and outs,” said Tom Jacobs, MedHQ CEO. “And our full HR team will work around the clock to make sure your center is compliant; that way, you can focus on what’s most important: caring for patients.”
From the time the new rule was a possibility, MedHQ showed laser-like focus in preparing its partner centers. The company identified salaried employees who could be impacted for the ASCs, and if the salary was below the new rule’s threshold, MedHQ mapped out a case-by-case strategy for its partner centers.
Strategies can vary from center to center, as there can be exceptions, and each situation must be handled appropriately. For example, employees working in sales may have a low base salary that falls under the new federal threshold; but, their variable pay might be quite high, depending on sales numbers, meaning they are not eligible for the new overtime rule. “These are the kind of unique employment situations that must be analyzed and handled with care,” said Jacobs. “And this is precisely what MedHQ provides: top-level analysis and personal touch.”
To learn more about how MedHQ can improve your ASC’s operations, reduce costs and reduce employer risk, email Tom Jacobs today, or call: 708-492-0519.