The wholesale distribution industry provides millions of Americans reliable, high paying jobs, and a one-size-fits-all, top-down rule from DOL will introduce further instability in an already strained labor market.

Washington, DC – The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW), the voice of the $8.2 trillion wholesale distribution industry, that employs over 6 million U.S. workers, and is essential to our nation’s economic health and the flow of goods and services, released the following statement:

“The Department of Labor’s proposed one-size-fits-all wage rule ignores marketplace discrepancies, and only further destabilizes an already strained marketplace for workers,” said NAW CEO Eric Hoplin.  “Compensation models have adapted over the years with factors like commissions, bonuses, out of office flexibility, and increased employer training, factoring into compensation decisions, all to the benefit of the employee, this rule ignores those advances and treats all workers the same. A new nationalized overtime rule would cause marketplace inefficiencies that would ultimately disadvantage those it means to help while driving up prices on consumers. NAW will be closely reviewing the rule and we expect to file comment once it is published in the Federal Register,” concluded Hoplin.

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) is one of America’s leading trade associations, representing the $8.2 trillion wholesale distribution industry. Founded in 1946, NAW comprises national, regional, and state employers of all sizes, industry trade associations, partners, and stakeholders spanning all distribution sectors. Our industry employs more than 6 million workers throughout the United States, accounting for 1/3 of the U.S. GDP. 35,000 wholesale distribution companies operate nearly 150,000 places of business across North America, including all 50 states. 

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