DOL Proposes a Unified Standard for Joint Employer Status Under Three Federal Laws

On April 22, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division published a proposed rule to clarify joint employer status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA). The proposed rule would establish a single, nationwide standard for determining when two or more employers are jointly responsible for an employee’s wages, benefits, and other employment protections.... By: Snell & Wilmer