On January 5, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued opinion letters on bonus pay, FMLA leave, and other wage and hour issues. A DOL opinion letter (we’ll refer to them throughout as a “DOL Op') is a written interpretation explaining how a specific federal labor law (like the FLSA or FMLA) applies to a particular circumstance. Opinion letters technically are not law, but they do provide important guidance on the DOL’s position on certain issues. Of particular importance is the first...