Sixth Circuit decision on overtime case backs pending companionship exemption rule

Home Health, Home Care & Hospice Chair Angelo Spinola discusses a recent Sixth Circuit decision affirming the Department of Labor’s authority to interpret overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act in the home care industry. The ruling, which found a provider liable for unpaid overtime under the 2013 rule, comes as the DOL considers reinstating the companionship exemption that would allow certain home care workers to be excluded from overtime and minimum wage requirements. Spinola notes that the decision may support the agency’s ability to implement the proposed rule, highlighting ongoing legal and policy tensions around worker protections and affordability of care.