Keith Sonderling
Keith E. Sonderling is an American lawyer and government official. He currently serves as a Commissioner on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, previously serving as Vice Chair. He was confirmed by the Senate on September 22, 2020 by a vote of 52–41.[1] Prior to the EEOC, he served as the Acting and Deputy Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor. [2][3][4] Before joining the government in 2017, he practiced Labor and Employment Law at the Florida-based Gunster Law Firm in West Palm Beach, Florida.[5]
Keith Sonderling | |
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Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission | |
Assumed office September 2020 | |
President | Joe Biden Donald Trump |
Preceded by | Charlotte A. Burrows |
Vice Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission | |
In office September 2020 – January 2021 | |
President | Donald Trump |
Preceded by | Jenny R. Yang |
Succeeded by | Jocelyn Samuels |
Acting Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division at the United States Department of Labor | |
In office January 2019 – April 2019 | |
President | Donald Trump |
Preceded by | Bryan L. Jarrett (acting) |
Succeeded by | Cheryl Stanton |
Deputy Administrator Wage and Hour Division at the United States Department of Labor | |
In office January 2019 – September 2020 | |
President | Donald Trump |
Preceded by | Bryan L. Jarrett |
Personal details | |
Born | November 25, 1982 |
Education | University of Florida (BS) Nova Southeastern University (JD) |
Career
Sonderling began his legal career at the Gunster Law Firm in West Palm Beach, Florida. At Gunster, he practiced Labor and Employment law throughout his tenure at the firm. Sonderling was elevated to Shareholder in 2015. In 2012, Florida Governor Rick Scott appointed Sonderling to serve as a Commissioner on the 4th District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission.[6] The Judicial Nominating Commission selects nominees to fill judicial vacancies within the Florida court system. In 2016, his fellow Commissioners elected him Chair.[7]
United States Department of Labor
In September 2017, Sonderling joined the United States Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.[8] In 2019, Sonderling served as the Acting Administrator,[9] overseeing 1,600 employees, 200 offices, and administering and enforcing some of the Nation's most comprehensive Federal labor laws including: the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and the labor provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act.[10]

As Deputy Administrator, Sonderling oversaw enforcement, outreach, regulatory work, strategic planning, performance management, communications, and stakeholder engagement. During his tenure, the Agency accomplished back-to-back record-breaking enforcement collections and educational outreach events.[11][12] Sonderling oversaw the development and publication of large-scale deregulatory rules, including the Overtime Rule,[13] Regular Rate,[14] and Joint Employment.[15] Sonderling authored numerous Opinion Letters[16] and Field Assistance Bulletins[17] during his tenure as Acting Administrator.
Sonderling issued an Opinion Letter regarding the Department's first-ever legal analysis of the gig economy. Opinion Letter FLSA2019-6 addressing whether a service provider for a virtual marketplace company is an employee of the company or an independent contractor under the FLSA.[18] The letter responded to a request on behalf of a particular virtual marketplace company. It concluded that the workers who provide services to consumers through this specific company's virtual platform are independent contractors, not employees of the company.[19]
Sonderling was also instrumental in developing the Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) the Agency's first comprehensive self-audit program.[20] PAID's primary objectives are to resolve claims expeditiously and without litigation, to improve employers’ compliance with overtime and minimum wage obligations, and to ensure that more employees receive the back wages they are owed. During the programs evaluation period it recovered $4.1 million in wages to 7,429 workers.[21]
United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
On July 3, 2019, President Donald J. Trump nominated Sonderling to be a member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for a term expiring July 1, 2024.[22] In October 2019, a coalition of 19 business associations sent a letter to the United States Senate HELP Committee in support of Sonderling's nomination.[23] Associations included the Associated General Contractors, National Restaurant Association, National Retail Federation, American Hotel and Lodging Association, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce.[24] On June 3, 2020, the United States Senate Health Education Labor and Pension Committee, by unanimous consent, favorably reported his nomination.[25]
On September 22, 2020, Sonderling was confirmed by the Senate 52–41.[26] He was sworn-in on September 30, 2020, and was also designated by President Trump to serve as Vice Chair of the commission.[27]
Education
Sonderling received a Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida and his Juris Doctor., magna cum laude, from Nova Southeastern University.
References
- "Roll Call Vote No. 189". Retrieved 2020-09-23.
- "DOL Names New Acting Wage and Hour Administrator". The National Law Review. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
- Diaz, Jaclyn. "Labor Department's New Acting Wage and Hour Chief Named". news.bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
- "DOL's Wage And Hour Division Gets New Acting Head - Law360". www.law360.com. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
- "Gunster attorney Keith Sonderling". Gunster. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
- "Gunster's Keith Sonderling appointed to judicial nominating commission". Gunster. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- "Gunster Attorney Keith E. Sonderling Reappointed by Gov. Scott to Judicial Nominating Commission". Citybizlist. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- "Management Lawyer Joins DOL as First Wage-Hour Political Hire". news.bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- "DOL Names New Acting Wage and Hour Administrator". The National Law Review. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- "About Us | U.S. Department of Labor". www.dol.gov. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- "U.S. Department of Labor Delivers Record $322 Million in Recovered Wages For Workers in Fiscal Year 2019 | U.S. Department of Labor". www.dol.gov. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- "U.S. Department of Labor Announces Record $304 Million in Recovered Wages for Workers in Fiscal Year 2018 | U.S. Department of Labor". www.dol.gov. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- "U.S. Department of Labor Releases Overtime Update Proposal | U.S. Department of Labor". www.dol.gov. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- "U.S. Department of Labor Issues Proposal to Update Regular Rate Regulations | U.S. Department of Labor". www.dol.gov. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- "U.S. Department of Labor Issues Proposal for Joint Employer Regulation | U.S. Department of Labor". www.dol.gov. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- "Final Rulings and Opinion Letters | U.S. Department of Labor". www.dol.gov. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- "Field Assistance Bulletins | U.S. Department of Labor". www.dol.gov. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- "U.S. Department of Labor Issues New Wage and Hour Opinion Letter, Concludes Service Providers for a Virtual Marketplace Company Are Independent Contractors | U.S. Department of Labor". www.dol.gov. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- Scheiber, Noam (2019-04-29). "Labor Dept. Says Workers at a Gig Company Are Contractors". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- "PAID | U.S. Department of Labor". www.dol.gov. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- "DOL Announces Results of the Payroll Audit Determination Program (PAID)". JD Supra. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts". The White House. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- "Business Groups Urge Confirmation of GOP Commissioner for EEOC". news.bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- "Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council". Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- "Nominations | The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions". www.help.senate.gov. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- "U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 116th Congress - 2nd Session". www.senate.gov. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- "Keith E. Sonderling Sworn in as EEOC Commissioner and Vice Chair | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission". www.eeoc.gov. Retrieved 2020-10-07.