U of I Suspends Overtime Changes After Court Ruling Against Labor Department
The University of Illinois says it's suspending immediately all of the recent changes announced ahead of the new federal overtime rules. That includes salary increases and overtime eligibility related to the new changes under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The move comes after a federal judge in Texas on Tuesday blocked nationwide implementation of the new rules.
The US Department of Labor made millions more American workers eligible for overtime effective December 1. It would have made most salaried employees who earn less than about $47,500 eligible for overtime pay. The court's ruling stops that, at least temporarily.
Jami Painter, Interim Associate Vice President for University Human Resources, announced the U of I's suspension in an email to staff Wednesday afternoon. She said the three-campus system is looking at the impact of the court's injunction on employees and promised more information soon.
The U of I previously said it would increase pay for some workers to push them over that salary threshold. Others were expected to document their hours in bi-weekly timesheets, and get approval for any overtime worked.
Painter directed anyone with questions to their appropriate university FLSA contacts:
Urbana
Deb Stone, Director of Academic Human Resources, 217-333-7466
Robbie Witt, Deputy Director of Staff Human Resources, 217-333-3101
Chicago
Ron Puskarits, Director of Compensation, 312- 996-3510
Debbie Lewis, Compensation Consulting Specialist, 312- 996-2219
Chicago - Hospital
Nick Haubach, Director of Human Resources, 312-413-8397
Springfield
Jennifer Suthard, Human Resource Assistant Manager, 217-206-6652
UA
Jami Painter, Interim Associate Vice President for University Human Resources, 217-244-8247
Angela Foster, Interim Director of Employee Relations and Human Resources, 217-333-7671
Disclosure: WILL is licensed to the University of Illinois Board of Trustees and station employees are affected by the campus' overtime changes.