In a decision that bolsters the pharmaceutical industry, a federal appeals court has ruled that sales reps are not eligible for overtime pay. In doing so, the court also rejected the position taken by the US Department of Labor, which has filed briefs in numerous cases supporting the notion that sales reps are entitled to overtime. The ruling by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals combined cases involving reps who worked for Eli Lilly and Abbott Laboratories. Whether sales reps are, in fact, entitled to overtime pay has been a closely watched and controversial topic. The debate has divided courts around the country for the past few years and the outcome has the potential to alter compensation for tens of thousands of industry employees who promote medicines. The US Supreme Court, in fact, is reviewing such a case and a decision is expected in late June (more on that later).
