U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant III of the Eastern District of Texas imposed an injunction against the rule Tuesday at the request of 21 states and several business groups.

In just a few days millions more American workers will be eligible for overtime, thanks to a new U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) rule that takes effect on Dec. 1. And the estimated 4 million workers who become are just the beginning — every three years, the pay levels will automatically update.

ABC, along with a coalition of business groups, filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the rule Sept. 20 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. ABC also contested the provision of the rule that requires automatic updating of the threshold when announcing its lawsuit.

The new rule raises the salary threshold for overtime eligibility from $455 per week, or $23,660 per year, to $913 per week, or $47,476 per year. As a result, more than 4.2 million salaried workers across the country will now be eligible for overtime pay. Employers have until Dec. 1, when the rule becomes effective, to prepare for the changes.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a revamping of the “white collar” exemptions test. When the changes become effective, employers can expect greater scrutiny and a further increase in wage and hour lawsuits. It is therefore important for employers to understand the upcoming changes to the overtime rules.

The motion has left many employers across the labor spectrum, including HVACR contractors, on high alert.