My candidate for the most important law enacted by Congress is the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). This law had perhaps the greatest economic impact upon the most Americans of any legislation. And its legacy endures even today, as it makes an appearance in the so-called One Big Beautiful Tax Bill as the instrument to partially deliver Trump’s promised no tax on overtime.

This blog goes back-to-basics explains the origin of and requirements to set up a so-called “Belo plan” for overtime compensation. Belo plans are a form of guaranteed overtime compensation. Failed Belo plans, which don’t meet the legal requirements, are still guaranteed fixed salaries for the scheduled hour paid, and thus may be eligible for half-time coefficient premium treatment.

On July 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) Wage and Hour Division (“WHD”) issued its annual All Agency Memorandum (“AAM”) that sets the health and welfare (“H&W”) fringe benefit rates for Service Contract Act (“SCA”) covered contracts. The update went into effect upon its issuance and has been incorporated into DOL Wage Determinations (“WDs”).