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SHRM-SCP: Understand the Public Comment Period for Exempt and Nonexempt Employee Salary Thresholds

Learn about the public comment period, a legal event where individuals and organizations express views on proposed changes to salary thresholds for exempt and nonexempt employees under the FLSA.

Table of Contents

Question

Individuals and organizations have been invited to express their views and concerns regarding the salary threshold for exempt and nonexempt employees. What is the legal term for this event?

Answer

Public comment period.

Explanation

The legal term for the event in which individuals and organizations are invited to express their views and concerns regarding the salary threshold for exempt and nonexempt employees is called a public comment period.

A public comment period is a specific timeframe designated by a government agency, such as the Department of Labor (DOL), during which the public is encouraged to provide feedback, opinions, and concerns about a proposed rule or regulation. In this case, the public comment period would be focused on gathering input about potential changes to the salary threshold that determines whether an employee is classified as exempt or nonexempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

During the public comment period, interested parties, including employees, employers, labor unions, professional associations, and advocacy groups, can submit written comments or participate in public hearings to voice their support, opposition, or suggestions for modifying the proposed salary threshold. This feedback is then reviewed and considered by the agency before finalizing the rule or regulation.

The purpose of the public comment period is to ensure that the agency has the opportunity to hear from a wide range of stakeholders and consider various perspectives before implementing changes that could have significant impacts on businesses and workers. It also promotes transparency and public participation in the rulemaking process.

After the public comment period closes, the agency will review and analyze the submitted comments, potentially make revisions to the proposed rule based on the feedback received, and then publish a final rule with an effective date for implementation.

SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certification exam practice question and answer (Q&A) dump with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the SHRM-SCP exam and earn SHRM-SCP certification.