Federal Spotlight: Judge Rules Against Trump Administration’s Rewrite of Joint Employer Rule

September 17, 2020

A federal district court judge in New York struck down the Trump administration’s narrower definition of ‘joint employer’, stating that the rule conflicted with the broader protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The ruling is a setback for the business community, which sought to return the Joint Employer Standard to its traditional and historical definition, which was upended and expanded by the Obama administration in 2015. If the ruling eventually stands, it will expand liability for franchisees and contractors with concerns to overtime and minimum wage laws. The administration has not yet appealed the decision. Read more.