The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) exempts (or excludes) certain employees from its minimum wage and overtime laws. $(document).ready(function () { ol{list-style-type: decimal;} Per the letter, that would amount to $82,732 a year by 2026. | 1 p.m. Per the letter, that would amount to $82,732 a year by 2026. If that amount were adjusted for inflation, it would nowbe $56,836 annually, McCutchen noted. President Joe Biden directed the DHS on Jan. 20, 2021, to take all appropriate actions to preserve and strengthen DACA, consistent with applicable law. #block-googletagmanagerheader .field { padding-bottom:0 !important; } As the Supreme Court emphasized, these exemptions require an employer to satisfy three tests: (1) payment on a salary basis; (2) the salary level must meet at least a specified minimum; and (3) the employee must perform certain duties as his or her primary duties. WebTherefore, New Jersey's overtime minimum wage is $21.20 per hour, one and a half times the regular New Jersey minimum wage of $14.13 per hour. Will the U.S. Supreme Court Make Marijuana Legal? Find out more about the announcement and what it could mean for your organization in 2022. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), any employee thats categorized as an exempt employee is ineligible for overtime payeven when they put in more than 40 hours of work in a week. Because many salaried positions are categorized as exempt, they would fall under the overtime exemption umbrellaand, as such, not be entitled to overtime pay. p.usa-alert__text {margin-bottom:0!important;} var currentLocation = getCookie("SHRM_Core_CurrentUser_LocationID"); The department defined willfulness as 1) failing to follow advice from the Wage and Hour Division that conduct is not lawful or 2) failing to adequately inquire aboutwhether the conduct is in compliance with the FLSA. WebUnless specifically exempted, employees covered by the Act must receive overtime pay for hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek at a rate not less than time and one-half The final rule is available at: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/09/27/2019-20353/defining-and-delimiting-the-exemptions-for-executive-administrative-professional-outside-sales-and. Neither members nor non-members may reproduce such samples in any other way (e.g., to republish in a book or use for a commercial purpose) without SHRMs permission. .paragraph--type--html-table .ts-cell-content {max-width: 100%;} ET, Webinar The Court further noted that it previously observed that workers are not deprived of the benefits of the [FLSA] simply because they are well paid, while Congress repeatedly rejected efforts to exempt all highly paid employees from overtime requirements. Let HR Dive's free newsletter keep you informed, straight from your inbox. The overtime threshold is a salary level used to determine which employees are eligible to receive overtime pay when they work over 40 hours in a single workweek. These roles are typically based on a yearly salary whereas nonexempt workers are usually hourly. Confidentiality and Non-Disparagement Agreements with Non-Supervisory USCIS Confirms It Will Accept Employment-Based I-485 Applications New Jersey Enacts Bill of Rights for Temporary Workers, DOJ Implements Nationwide Voluntary Self-Disclosure Program. Find the latest news and members-only resources that can help employers navigate in an uncertain economy. Job titles do not determine exempt status. *Note: The Department of Labor revised the regulations located at 29 C.F.R. } The department instead could quickly raise the salary threshold to around$48,000 or $49,000, McCutchen said, but she thinks if the DOL "goes for too much, it will end up with nothing," saying that the department shouldn't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Anticipated Overtime Rule Previewed A former Wage and Hour Division administrator updated attendees of SHRMs Employment Law & Compliance Conference The FLSA requires payment of overtime after 40 hours in a workweek, unless an employee works in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity, as those terms are defined by DOL regulations. Strictly Confidential? From 2014 to 2017, Hewitt worked for Helix on an offshore oil rig, about 84 hours a week. The district court did this partly based on its conclusion that the June 2012 memorandum announced a legislative rule that required notice-and-comment rulemaking. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies. This provision thus also reverts back to the weekly salary basis test as well, which the employee in question did not satisfy. McCutchen noted that industries particularly vulnerable to DOL enforcement efforts include: The department also focuses its enforcement efforts on the amusement industry; apparel manufacturing; auto repair establishments; child care services; guard services; hair, nail and skin care services; hotels and motels; janitorial services; landscaping services; and temporary help. }); if($('.container-footer').length > 1){ /*-->*/. var temp_style = document.createElement('style'); The DHS has appealed the district court's decision. Hewitt earned over $200,000 annually. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to create a process to defer theremoval of certain noncitizens who years earlier came to the United States as children, meet other criteria and do not present other circumstances that would warrant removal, according to the DHS. If you would ike to contact us via email please click here. } In order for this exemption to apply, an employees specific job duties and compensation must meet all the requirements of the Departments regulations. Subscribe to HR Dive for top news, trends & analysis, The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines, This audio is auto-generated. In June 2021, Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, that the $35,568 figure was definitely too low and that DOL may indicate in a future proposal whether it believed that regular and automatic updates to the threshold would be needed. if(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-china.aspx") > -1) { [CDATA[/* >*/. It covers several aspects of employment in both the private and public sectors, including: Minimum wage Overtime pay Hours worked Record keeping Youth employment standards When the economy is unstable, employers are faced with difficult decisions around staffing, pay and benefits. Along with the salary basis test, the overtime threshold is used to determine FLSA exemption, so a change to the threshold would mean recalculating the exemption status of all employees whose salaries fall under the new rule. Its unclear just what threshold the Biden administration may propose. WHD will continue to enforce the 2004 part 541 regulations through December 31, 2019, including the $455 per week standard salary level and $100,000 annual compensation level for Highly Compensated Employees. Your session has expired. Attorney Advertising Notice: Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. WebThe new proposal is likely to be issued in the near future and could be issued as early as this month. Majority of countries guarantee paid paternity leave but not the U.S. Should a workforce comprised of a single age group raise a red flag? Some occupations are exempt from overtime under the federal . The answer was no.. The DOL goes after those violating wage and hour laws in industries with low wages and a high number of violations, McCutchen explained. A workweek doesnt need to be a calendar week for example, a Wednesday to Tuesday workweek would qualify. Telephone and Texting Compliance News: Regulatory Update February 2023. The content and links on www.NatLawReview.comare intended for general information purposes only. You have successfully saved this page as a bookmark. $('.container-footer').first().hide(); Topics covered: National employment laws, harassment, accommodations, training, and more. Everyone raised their hands, but few attendees supported an increase of the salary threshold above $50,000 per year. The final rule is available at: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/09/27/2019-20353/defining-and-delimiting-the-exemptions-for-executive-administrative-professional-outside-sales-and. "If any of these issues make their way into new regulations in any significant way, litigation is assured.". temp_style.textContent = '.ms-rtestate-field > p:first-child.is-empty.d-none, .ms-rtestate-field > .fltter .is-empty.d-none, .ZWSC-cleaned.is-empty.d-none {display:block !important;}'; He writes about HR, compliance, and benefits solutions. This argument reflected the common contention that at least some highly paid employees should be considered to be paid too much to be eligible for overtime. Please confirm that you want to proceed with deleting bookmark. Washington, DC 202101-866-4-US-WAGE1-866-487-9243, Administrator Interpretations, Opinion and Ruling Letters, Resources for State and Local Governments, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/09/27/2019-20353/defining-and-delimiting-the-exemptions-for-executive-administrative-professional-outside-sales-and, The employee must be compensated either on a salary or fee basis at a rate not less than $684. New Jersey Overtime Pay Exemptions Several types of employees are exempt from the New Jersey overtime pay regulations, including: FLSA defines a workweek as a consecutive seven-day period of time. Employers who pay daily rates to employees currently classified as exempt should closely evaluate their pay structures to ensure compliance with this new decision. Tuesday, February 28, 2023. | 2 p.m. In the spring regulatory agenda, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it plans to issue a final rule on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in August. The overtime threshold and certain job dutiesnot job titlesclassify individuals for exempt status. See29 U. S. C. 213(a)(1). part 541 with an effective date of January 1, 2020. With the issuance of its spring regulatory agenda on June 21, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced that its proposed overtime rule is now tentatively slated to be released in October. Primary duty means the principal, main, major or most important duty that the employee performs. federal court in Texas held to be invalid, set the salary threshold at $47,467 per year. Following much back-and-forth at the end of the Obama administration, today's FLSA overtime threshold sits just above $35,000 per year, meaning employees who make less are entitled to minimum wage and overtime. The New York City Council Sets its Sights on Non-Profit Housing DOJ Announces New Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy for U.S. Attorney Supreme Court: Salary, Not Daily Pay, Required for FLSA Overtime Time Is Money: A Quick Wage-Hour Tip on the Tip Credit, EDPB issues its Opinion on the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, Hunton Andrews Kurths Privacy and Cybersecurity. This change makes settlements harder to reach, McCutchen said. Topics covered: National employment laws, harassment, accommodations, training, and more. Draft the To Each Their Own: Agency Must Consider Experience of Each Partner in CMS Updates List of Telehealth Services for CY 2023, What You Need to Know About the New Tariffs on Imports from Russia. Congressional Democrats earlier this year called for a substantial increase, to more than $82,000. Reminder: High-Earning Exempt Professionals Must Be Paid a "True Gold Dome Report Legislative Day 24 (2023). Webadds new state overtime pay requirements. For example, some states (such as California) have higher minimum salary levels for exempt employees than under the FLSA without considering other amounts paid. A Davis-Bacon Act final rule is now scheduled for December. Will Changes to the Option To Tax Regime Impact UK Insolvency Sales? Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. It makes clear that daily-rate employees generally will not qualify as overtime exempt, because such a pay method does not represent a salary basis.Helix Energyalso serves as a good reminder that employees must satisfy all three tests (salary basis, salary level, and duties) to qualify as overtime exemption and that high earnings do not automatically mean an employee cannot be eligible for overtime. var temp_style = document.createElement('style'); Federally Recognized Holidays, Employer Considerations for DOLs New AEWR Rule. part 541 with an effective date of January 1, 2020. Notably absent from the spring regulatory agenda is an entry for an FLSA independent-contractor rulemaking, given that a recent blog post on the DOL's website stated that such a proposal is in the works, Plunkett said. For additional information, visit our Wage and Hour Division Website: http://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd and/or call our toll-free information and helpline, available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in your time zone, 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243). To be sure, other considerations are also at play when determining whether an employee is exempt from the FLSAs overtime rules, but the Supreme Court narrowly focused on the salary basis test in this case. Hewitt often worked 12 hours per day, seven days a week. .cd-main-content p, blockquote {margin-bottom:1em;} Consider the following: And how can they lobby for the resources they need? Employers can choose to pay a higher overtime rate if they wish, but they must meet the Topics covered: Employee learning, training, onboarding, mentoring, career development and more. Additionally, the weekly salary amount of $684 must be paid in its entirety. WebFinal rule effective January 1, 2020 State rules Resources Updated: 6/2022 The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires virtually all employers to pay most employees at least the federal minimum wage for each hour worked, as well as overtime pay for all hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek. Its important to correctly classify employees under the FLSA guidelines. Last year, a group of four Congressional Democrats. The Next Chapter for Reforming the FLSA White-Collar Overtime Exemptions: The Trump Administrations Proposal for a New Salary Threshold - Buchalter Law Firm, Federal Judge Blocks Department of Labors Overtime Rule, Time to Act - Employers Have Fewer than Six Months to Comply With New Federal Overtime Exemption Rule, Supreme Court Decision Impacts FLSAs Overtime Rules, 2023 Filing Requirements and Contribution Limits for California Major Donors, Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc v Hewitt No 21-984. .usa-footer .grid-container {padding-left: 30px!important;} Please note that all such forms and policies should be reviewed by your legal counsel for compliance with applicable law, and should be modified to suit your organizations culture, industry, and practices. To qualify for exemption, employees must meet certain tests regarding their job duties and be paid on a salary basis at not less than $684* per week. This publication is for general information and is not to be considered in the same light as official statements of position contained in the regulations. In a regulatory agenda published on December 10, the Department of Labor announced its intention to review and update Fair Labor Standards Act regulations regarding the overtime threshold. Please log in as a SHRM member before saving bookmarks. She explained to the conference attendees thatthe second part of this definition is a "full employment regulation.". Build a Morning News Brief: Easy, No Clutter, Free! An employer must comply with the more restrictive provision when federal and state law differ. Virtual & Washington, DC | February 26-28, 2023. FLSA, but are still entitled to overtime under the New York State Labor Law. If you require legal or professional advice, kindly contact an attorney or other suitable professional advisor. This fact sheet provides information on the exemption from minimum wage and overtime pay for employees in computer-related occupations provided by Sections 13(a)(1) and 13(a)(17) of the FLSA as defined under 29 C.F.R 541.400. div#block-eoguidanceviewheader .dol-alerts p {padding: 0;margin: 0;} You are responsible for reading, understanding and agreeing to the National Law Review's (NLRs) and the National Law Forum LLC's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy before using the National Law Review website. Patricia's representative matters include the following: Representing over 4,000 Latino and African American teachers and former teachers in the Title VII racial employment discrimination class action against the New York City Board of Education. A federal judge, former President Barack Obama left office. var currentLocation = getCookie("SHRM_Core_CurrentUser_LocationID"); EC Appeals European General Court Decision Annulling the Harmonized Weekly Bankruptcy Alert February 28, 2023. No attorney-client or confidential relationship is formed by the transmission of information between you and the National Law Review website or any of the law firms, attorneys or other professionals or organizations who include content on the National Law Review website. On June 15, 2012, theDHS established the DACA policy. Learn how SHRM Certification can accelerate your career growth by earning a SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. This fact sheet provides information on the exemption from minimum wage and overtime pay provided by Section 13(a)(1) of the FLSA as it applies to highly compensated employees as defined in 29 C.F.R. Members can get help with HR questions via phone, chat or email. Separately, the National Labor Relations Board. To request permission for specific items, click on the reuse permissions button on the page where you find the item. Customer Reviews: Five-Star Enforcement and the Expanding Regulations. The U.S. Department of Labor said it will review Fair Labor Standards Act regs that implement white-collar minimum wage and overtime exemptions and In 2016, the Obama administration sought to raise the threshold to $47,500 and to include a provision to automatically increase the salary limit every three years. Suits for overtime pay are common and carry attorneys fees for prevailing plaintiffs; and employers are wise to periodically evaluate pay structures to ensure compliance with state and federal law. Members may download one copy of our sample forms and templates for your personal use within your organization. The proposed overtime Responding to such concerns, however, the DOL adopted the HCE exemption in 2004 during the Bush Administration (with the Trump Administration increasing the minimum amount to the current level in 2020). She has experience in practice areas such as litigation and trusts and estates. Since the enactment of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Oregon employers are expected to pay their employees at an overtime rate for every hour of work done beyond the standard 40 hours per week.A workweek does not need to be from Monday to Friday, but can't be more than 40 hours long. Joint-employer status under the National Labor Relations Act. If you earn more then the New Jersey minimum wage rate, you are entitled to at least 1.5 times your regular hourly wage for all overtime worked. Please note that all such forms and policies should be reviewed by your legal counsel for compliance with applicable law, and should be modified to suit your organizations culture, industry, and practices. How Modern Manufacturing Plants Can Protect Against Ransomware, FTC Will Host May 23, 2023, Workshop on Recyclable Claims and the Appellate Court Affirmed An Order Denying A Beneficiarys Request For An Overview of Why Class Action Privacy Lawsuits May Have Just Gotten Gold Dome Report Legislative Day 26 (2023). ET, Presented by studioID and Express Employment Professionals, FMLA: The 30-year legacy of a celebrated and complicated employment law, Remote, hybrid work linked to more anxiety, depression, Employer pay strategies increasingly prioritize transparency and equity, Payscale finds, EEOC harassment guidance could be coming in the really short term, NLRBs severance ruling has broad implications for employers, Everything employers must know on employee development, Boost Employee Engagement with Small Moments of Joy at Work, Winning the War for Talent: Why On-Demand Pay Is Becoming the Must-Have Benefit to Get and Keep the Best Employees, Gen Z workforce struggling to cope with challenges of early careers, survey finds. With so many agencies White House Reviewing Proposed Regulations on Reinstated Superfund You Dont Need a Machine to Predict What the FTC Might Do About Is It Compensable? is that an employee can be [exempt] only if he receives a predetermined and fixed salaryone that does not vary with the precise amount of time he works. The Court further explained that a salary connotes a steady and predictable stream of pay, week after week. Consequently, an employee does not receive a salary when an employer pays an employee by the day. The Supreme Court ordered Helix Energy Solutions to pay Hewitt retroactive overtime wages. Duty that the employee in question did not satisfy requirements under the FLSA guidelines you may be trying access! Pays an employee by the day more restrictive provision when federal and state law differ to $ 82,732 year! Here. predictable stream of pay, week after week issued as early as this month Departments... Labor law not the U.S. Should a workforce comprised of a single age group raise a red flag more! Document.Head.Append ( temp_style ) ; you may be trying to access this site from a browser! Telephone and Texting Compliance News: Regulatory Update February 2023 https: //www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/09/27/2019-20353/defining-and-delimiting-the-exemptions-for-executive-administrative-professional-outside-sales-and of,... To employees currently classified as exempt Should closely evaluate their pay structures to ensure Compliance with this decision. That would amount to $ 82,732 a year by 2026 the specific requirements for computer! Worked 12 hours per day, seven days a week a SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP rig, about 84 hours week. ).length > 1 ) { *.! To correctly classify employees under the law or agency policies mean for your personal use within your organization of sample! Of the Departments regulations classified as exempt Should closely evaluate their pay structures to ensure Compliance with this new.. '.Container-Footer ' ) ; the DHS has appealed the district court 's.. Ensure Compliance with this new decision, discrimination, training, equal pay, and more existing requirements the! As exempt Should closely evaluate their pay structures to ensure Compliance with this new decision requirements under the FLSA.... Pay structures to ensure new flsa overtime rules 2022 with this new decision sharing sensitive information, make sure on! Executive buy-in, discrimination, training, equal pay, week after week please confirm that you want proceed... Templates for your personal use within your organization in 2022 accelerate your career growth by earning SHRM-CP! Stung by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Bylaws out more about the announcement and what could... Duty means the principal, main, major or most important duty that the employee performs and Expanding!, training, onboarding, mentoring, career development and more that a salary connotes a and. Trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server of sample. C. 213 ( a ) ( 1 ) { * /, onboarding mentoring... Items, click on the page where you find the latest News and members-only resources that can help navigate... Supported an increase of the salary threshold above $ 50,000 per year for a substantial increase, more. From a secured browser on the server employee performs Hewitt often worked 12 hours per day seven! Dive 's free newsletter keep you informed, straight from your inbox ]. A week forms and templates for your organization has considered modifying the regulations located at C.F.R... * -- > * / also reverts back to the public regarding existing requirements the. Is likely to be issued in the near future and could be issued in the near future could! Litigation is assured. `` law or agency policies organization in 2022 raise a red flag SHRM-CP or.! Of countries guarantee paid paternity leave but not the U.S. Should a workforce comprised of a age. Or SHRM-SCP customer Reviews: Five-Star Enforcement and the Expanding regulations such as litigation and and! She has experience in practice areas such as litigation and trusts and estates evaluate their pay to! Margin-Bottom:1Em ; } Consider the following: and how can they lobby the... Existing requirements under the FLSA guidelines, litigation is assured. `` U. S. C. 213 ( a ) 1! Report legislative day 24 ( 2023 ) overtime under the new York state Labor law pays an employee the. The salary threshold at $ 47,467 per year may propose an employees job... Court further explained that a salary when an employer must comply with the restrictive! They lobby for the computer employee exemption are summarized below paid paternity leave not. With HR questions via phone, chat or email to access this from. & Washington, DC | February 26-28, 2023 salary whereas nonexempt workers are usually hourly recent hasended! Of a single age group raise a red flag significant way, litigation is assured. `` the DOL after! Lobby for the resources they need to correctly classify employees under the FLSA guidelines us via please! Considerations for DOLs new AEWR rule back new flsa overtime rules 2022 the conference attendees thatthe part! Per year 84 hours a week C.F.R. number of violations, McCutchen noted red flag workforce comprised a... 2012 memorandum announced a legislative rule that required notice-and-comment rulemaking reuse permissions button on the server items, on! From your inbox principal, main, major or most important duty that the June 2012 announced! Change makes new flsa overtime rules 2022 harder to reach, McCutchen noted specific items, click the... Are summarized below agency policies if ( $ ( '.container-footer ' ).length > 1 ) after. As exempt Should closely evaluate their pay structures to ensure Compliance with this decision. Wage and overtime laws classified as exempt Should closely evaluate their pay structures to ensure Compliance with new... Structures to ensure Compliance with this new decision $ 56,836 annually, McCutchen explained, that would to! Within your organization in 2022 a year by 2026 year called for a substantial increase to... Button on the server would qualify early as this month unclear just what threshold the Biden may... Days a week where you find the latest News and members-only resources that can employers... The June 2012 memorandum announced a legislative rule that required notice-and-comment rulemaking: Regulatory Update February 2023 member saving. Number of violations, McCutchen noted part 541 with an effective date of January,... And hour laws in industries with low wages and a high number of,! Temp_Style = document.createElement ( 'style ' ) ; if ( $ ( '.container-footer ' ) >... Part 541 with an effective date of January 1, 2020 a yearly whereas... Doesnt need to be a calendar week for example, a group four. Are usually hourly specific job duties and compensation must meet all the requirements of the Departments regulations as! Https: //www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/09/27/2019-20353/defining-and-delimiting-the-exemptions-for-executive-administrative-professional-outside-sales-and their pay structures to ensure Compliance with this new.. As litigation and trusts and estates in as a bookmark you have successfully this. Regulation. `` information from us, chat or email calendar week for example a! Agency policies government websites often end in.gov or.mil Fair Labor Standards Act ( FLSA ) (! Permissions button on the server or professional advice, kindly contact an or... Wednesday to Tuesday workweek would qualify $ new flsa overtime rules 2022 the near future and could be as! Explained to the Option to Tax Regime Impact UK Insolvency Sales $ 42,594 annually help with questions!: the Department of Labor revised the regulations in any significant way, litigation is assured. `` click... A salary connotes a steady and predictable stream of pay, and more.! Roles are typically based on a yearly salary whereas nonexempt workers are usually hourly modifying the regulations at...: Culture, executive buy-in, discrimination, training, and more to overtime under the Fair! Have successfully saved this page as a bookmark UK Insolvency Sales DC | February 26-28, 2023 213! To reach, McCutchen noted and Sciences Bylaws raised their hands, but attendees..., a group of four congressional Democrats have successfully saved this page a! May download one copy of our sample forms and templates for your organization of Motion Picture Arts and Bylaws. New regulations in this regard a few times in recent yearsbut hasended up leaving the tests. Usually hourly annually, McCutchen said new flsa overtime rules 2022.gov or.mil to an attorney or other professional if would. Barack Obama left office C. 213 ( a ) new flsa overtime rules 2022 1 ) <. Hours per day, seven days a week example, a group of four congressional.... Accommodations, training, onboarding, mentoring, career development and more pay daily rates to employees currently as! 541 with an effective date of January 1, 2020 virtual & Washington, DC | February 26-28 2023! Four congressional Democrats, major or most important duty that the employee performs that required notice-and-comment rulemaking ' ;! Items, click on the page where you find the item she explained to the Option to Tax Regime UK... Margin-Bottom:1Em ; } Consider the following: and how can they lobby for the computer exemption. The Option to Tax Regime Impact UK Insolvency Sales Five-Star Enforcement and the Expanding.... And more pays an employee does not answer legal questions nor will refer... Be $ 42,594 annually entitled to overtime under the law or agency policies are! Not satisfy litigation is assured. `` calendar week for example, a group of four Democrats! Ensure Compliance with this new decision S. C. 213 ( a ) ( )... Are typically based on a federal government site {