In addition to the increase in the salary threshold there was another significant change in the final rules.  Previously employers were not allowed to consider bonuses and commissions when calculating the employee’s minimum salary amount.  Under the new rules the employer can count up to 10% of an employee’s bonuses and commissions, provided that those bonuses and commissions are “non-discretionary”.  Unfortunately the Department of Labor did not go on to clearly define the term “non-discretionary” under the rules.  This may result in future litigation over the matter.  We can, however, look to another part of the FLSA for guidance regarding what the DOL will consider when determining if a bonus or commission is “non-discretionary” under the Act.  Section 29 C.F.R.  § 778.211 of the Act deals with when bonuses and commissions are discretionary and MUST be included in the employee’s pay when determining the base hourly rate.   In that Section the DOL defines “discretionary” as follows:

            “In order for a bonus to qualify for exclusion as a discretionary bonus under section 7(e)(3)(a) the employer must retain discretion both as to the fact of payment and as to the amount until a time quite close to the end of the period for which the bonus is paid. The sum, if any, to be paid as a bonus is determined by the employer without prior promise or agreement. The employee has no contract right, express or implied, to any amount. If the employer promises in advance to pay a bonus, he has abandoned his discretion with regard to it. Thus, if an employer announces to his employees in January that he intends to pay them a bonus in June, he has thereby abandoned his discretion regarding the fact of payment by promising a bonus to his employees. Such a bonus would not be excluded from the regular rate under section 7(e)(3)(a). Similarly, an employer who promises to sales employees that they will receive a monthly bonus computed on the basis of allocating 1 cent for each item sold whenever, is his discretion, the financial condition of the firm warrants such payments, has abandoned discretion with regard to the amount of the bonus though not with regard to the fact of payment. Such a bonus would not be excluded from the regular rate. On the other hand, if a bonus such as the one just described were paid without prior contract, promise or announcement and the decision as to the fact and amount of payment lay in the employer’s sole discretion, the bonus would be properly excluded from the regular rate.

Under this definition of “discretionary” it appears that in order to be considered “non-discretionary”, the employee must have a contractual right  (express or implied) to collect the payment should they meet a specific set of objective criteria.  Once the employer announces the objective criteria required to qualify for the bonus or commission, the employer must be obligated to pay the employee if they meet that criteria, no matter what.   The employer can have no “discretion” as to whether or not they will make the incentive payment.  If you are intending to include bonuses or commissions to account for up to 10% of the required minimum salary for your exempt employees, you will need to review your policies regarding payment of these bonuses or commissions to be certain that they are truly “non-discretionary”.   

Non –discretionary bonuses and commissions must be paid to employees at least quarterly.   If at the end of the quarter the employee does not meet the minimum salary level required for exemption, the employer may make a catch-up contribution by the next pay period after the end of the quarter.  If no catch-up contribution is made then overtime must be paid for the quarter.    It is, therefore, extremely important that employers who are using “non-discretionary” bonuses or commissions as part of the compensation required to meet minimum salary levels under the Act keep extremely accurate records of hours worked for these employees in case you need to pay overtime at the end of the quarter.