'Twas the week before Christmas, 2-0-1-5
When the poetry elves on the blog came alive.
Crafting their rhymes with a purpose so clear:
Presenting the wage-hour gems of the year.

In January, for new regs in this year our breath bated.
Then for six painful months, we speculated and waited.
And just as we geared up to celebrate Independence,
Out came a proposal that will create more defendants.

With a salary level that for 10 years has been flat,
They looked at New York's and said "higher than that."
More than double the old; and then they got clever ...
The proposed sal'ry level will increase for forever.

Anticipated changes to duties caused quite a fuss
When DOL said "If you've got some ideas, just tell us."
Of the Department's proposal, employers were understandably wary,
So we wrote down some ideas on how to make it less scary.

Nearly 300 thousand comments they have to review,
It will be late into next year before they are through.

Next up on the list of your wage-hour joy,
Are the efforts to change what it means to employ:
Contractors.  Joint employment. Fissured industry.
Interns. The "third way" and gig economy.

Economic reality.  Right to control.
They're integral to your business? Now you're in a deep hole.
So many angles, it can drive you berserk.
As agencies and courts figure out what is "work."

And if divergent decisions bring you a sense of elation,
Then please focus attention on class certification.
Approvals, denials, and some decerts, too.
No matter the side, there's a case for you.

But as summer approached, there arose quite a stir,
A case that'd explain what the class cert rules were.
A Supreme explanation, o my-o, o me-o
We'd learn about class via Bouaphakeo.

They've argued, but there's no decision, not yet,
And a limited ruling on records might be all that we get.
But the cases keep coming. Their numbers broke the charts.
Whether giant class actions or cases broken in parts.

And the response to those filings? The employers' retort?
A wide range of ways to get them out of court.

Some cases get mooted. Some cases do not.
At Genesis's open question, SCOTUS might take a shot.
Does an offer of judgment that's not been accepted
Mean the plaintiff cannot proceed with his class as expected?

Increasingly used as a litigation life saver
Arbitration agreements with a class action waiver;
And when asked if state laws could class waivers prevent, yo,
The Supremes laid the smack-down to dear Sacramento.

With all of these options, it comes as a surprise then,
That one resolution keeps on getting the Heisman.
For reasons that many cannot understand,
To settle wage claims courts think they must hold your hand.

That's our year in review, we whipped you right through it.
Next year? The new regs and a mad dash to review it.
But before 2015 joins the past's ranks,
You keep on reading our blog, and for that we give thanks!

THANKS TO ALL OF OUR READERS. BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

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