Beyond 80/20: What the DOL’s Latest Tipped Employee Guidance Means for Hospitality Employers

The U.S. Department of Labor has taken another significant step away from the longstanding “80/20 Rule" governing the use of the tip credit for tipped employees. In Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2026-1, the DOL withdrew three decades-old opinion letters that helped form the basis for the 80/20 Rule and clarified that its current enforcement position does not impose a percentage-based limitation on related, non-tip-producing work.

This webinar will examine this important development and what it means for employers in the hospitality industry. The presenters will discuss the history and evolution of the 80/20 Rule; the Fifth Circuit's 2024 decision in Restaurant Law Center v. U.S. Department of Labor; the DOL's latest Field Assistance Bulletin; and the continuing risks posed by existing federal court precedent and state-law requirements. Attendees will come away with practical guidance for evaluating tip-credit practices in this changing legal landscape.

Time:
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PT
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MT
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CT
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET