Hello, Evil HR Lady!

I was wondering if you could explain something to me. My job was recently reclassified from exempt to non-exempt. I understand the technicalities of it. What I don’t understand is the real implication.

I’ve never been classified as non-exempt, not even years ago when I was entry level (well, as a kid in summer jobs, but you know what I mean). My perception was that it was essentially for non-professional positions. If it was a positive classification, I have no doubt management would include themselves. I’ve hunted online, but everything I’m finding discusses the issue from the employer’s point of view. I want the big picture. What are the pros and cons of this from the employee’s perspective?

Thanks,
Reluctantly Reclassified

First of all, whether or are exempt or non-exempt is based on the Fair Labor Standards Act. For whatever reasons, your company feels like your job doesn’t meet the requirements to be classified as exempt.

You didn’t mention what you do, so I’m going to assume that your classification is correctly identified as non-exempt. For jobs that are on the border between the two classifications (which yours probably is, since it went from exempt to non-exempt), the company is wise to classify the job as non-exempt. There are no punishments for incorrectly labeling a job non-exempt, but you can get yourself in big trouble for incorrectly classifying a job as exempt.

I’m just going to list one pro and one con of being non-exempt.

Pro:

  • Overtime. Any work more than 40 hours a week and they have to pay you overtime. You take your laptop on vacation and spend an hour working? They have to compensate you for that time. Your boss calls you at home and asks you work questions? They have to pay you. If you are exempt, forget it.

 

Con:

  • Mobility. In my experience, it is much harder to get promoted from a non-exempt position into an exempt position than it is to get promoted from a low level exempt job into a higher level exempt job. There is a perception that you lack higher level skills.

 

What does this mean for you? Hard to say, since I don’t know anything about your job. I do recommend sitting down with your boss and asking to see the criteria that were used to classify your job. If you want to be considered exempt, ask what responsibilities you can take on to be re-classified. It’s doubtful your boss will have a clue, at which time you might want to make an appointment with HR. Keep in mind that your employee relations person might not have a clue either. In that case, you need to find out the person in compensation who made the decision.

Of course, if you work for a small company, that may well be the same person.

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39 thoughts on “Exempt vs Nonexempt

  1. Same thing just happened to me. I work in the IT business. Rumor has it, we will be getting 3 years backpay of all Overtime worked for the previous 3 years, but this is still being worked out.

  2. Same thing happened to me after working here for 1 year. I am an administrative assistant and was told by HR that my job should have been non-exempt. I’ve been an AA for 10 years and have always been exempt!

  3. And the same thing happened to me as well. I am an administrative assistant in the IT industry and have not been a non-exempt employee for many, many years.

  4. Same thing happened to MANY employees at the fortune 500 company I work for. Do you think a technical writer is a non-exempt function? We don’t, but the courts did!!

  5. Why would you want to be exempt? Non exempt salaried is a great thing you are guaranteed a minimum salary and you also get overtime for any hours worked over forty. I don’t think any of the pros to being exempt are of enough value to outweigh that. Too many employees are taken advantage of by being classified exempt because of uninformed employers and employees that don’t know what they are entitled to.

  6. Camille is exactly right! I would love to be non-exempt again. The FLSA law protects those in the non-exempt status from exploitation by employers.

    If Wage and Hour had enough staff, the exploitation would soon end. As it stands now, most corporations think it is cheaper to take the chance and they exempt secretaries because the “administrative assistant” title is so attractive the employee is willing to work long and hard for the exempt status. In reality, you do more work for less pay when you count all the hours you are really working.

    Be thankful you have an HR department that works hard to ensure compliance with the laws.

    1. I disagree.
      Exempt, for me, means I don’t have to make sure I’m on task all the time. I’m late for a mid-day workout, or a meeting goes long, so be it.
      My work-day is a little relaxed;
      On the other hand, I work a 12+-hour day at least once a week, and I almost always work on Saturdays.

      Attn: Workers; if you’re being exploited, leave.
      If you’re working at one of the only jobs available in an awesome town that you never want to leave, perhaps you should feel lucky.
      I have a long commute from a great town to an okay town for a great job that pays very little.

  7. I beg to differ on the status of Admins. When I was “demoted” I lost sick days eccentially. Now I have to use my vacation days as sick days. The salaried employees can be off work for a week without any monetary implications. AND my boss told me that he would not pay me overtime. I would still have to “absorb” the work just like I did in the past. I did not “absorb”, I worked overtime for nothing, but at least I had sick days. This is definitely a demotion in my world.

  8. What does “eccentially” mean? I have never seen this word and neither has any of the dictonaries I looked through.

  9. I WAS TOLD BY A CO-WORKER TO CHANGE MY STATUS TO EXEMPT,FOR 1 PAYPERIOD,SO I COULD GET ALL OF MY SIGN ON BONUS. IS THIS POSSIBLE

    1. You are talking about your W-4 information. This thread is about your employment FLSA Status… two different things. Yes, you can change your W4 information whenever you want to but, this is used for your taxes and subject to the IRS.

  10. @ Anon May 13th – I think that's illegal (refusing to pay you overtime if you are, in fact, working above 40 hours a week)

    @ Amy – If you want to be a smart ass, you might want to spell "dictionaries" correctly.

  11. Yet another unintended consequence of the push by the "labor rights" crowd to supposedly improve the lot of white collar workers. For decades white collar meant get a salary and work your butt off, and no one complained. But then the whiner culture took hold. The weakest of the bunch went to slip and fall scum sucking lawyers and class action suits were the result. Rather than have a real debate and hopefully reaffirm the right of free association and general principles of economic freedom nanny government fell on the side of the Wobblies.

    And now? An increasing number of white collar workers find themselves pushed down the stack and reclassified as blue collar nobodies with ever less power than they had before.

    Nice work whiners!/sarc

  12. I am a product engineer and I was jut been re-classified from exempt to non exempt. after I asked why the told me that my grade level ( ii) is classified as non exempt, but same people in my group with the same grade level are classified as exempt. what does this mean?

  13. When employees are converted from salaried to hourly, do companies traditionally take their former salary (say $60K annually) and do the math to make it approx. $30/hour? How have companies made those hourly rate decisions when an existing job changes classificatons?

  14. To comment on the original answer: "First of all, whether or are exempt or non-exempt is based on the Fair Labor Standards Act." This is deceiving, the employer can ALWAYS choose to pay an employee by the hour (AKA non-exempt). The reason some don't are for a multitude of reasons, some include; (1) budgeting. It is easier to add up the salaries of hundreds of employees to estimate a budget rather than hourly employees that may get overtime…overtime is hard to account for. (2) other times employers do it for "status". For whatever reason, some people actually want to be exempt. It's rediculous to me! If you are exempt, without fail, you will work a minimum of 2 – 3 extra hours a week, and that is with an employer that "doesn't take advantage of your exempt status".

    @ anonymous on July 19th: Yes, you are correct. When reclassifying a position from exempt to non-exempt (assuming no other duties about the position change) the pay for the position will stay the same. So, 60k/yr equates to roughly $30/hr.

    You never have to qualify to be hourly, however if a company wants to make you exempt, then your position must qualify – seems rediculous to "qualify" for less benefit to the employee.

    Final thought. @ the administrative assistant – without looking at your duties, I would bet your position does NOT qualify for exempt status and that's why they "demoted" you…otherwise if you sue, they must pay back wages for all the overtime you worked. And even though you got sick days…were you using them at such a rate to make it more beneficial than all the overtime you were most likely working?

  15. I have worked most of my life as a non-exempt employee. Six years ago I received a promotion and went to an exempt status and I hate it. It is the fairness factor! Several times a week and most weekends I receive calls that take 15-45 minutes of time. I get calls on vacation as well. It is expected that you will be available anytime. If I need to leave early or have a doctors appt. I am expected to deduct this time or to make it up. I would rather just clock in and out and be done with it. It is very frustrating to be expected to give and give of my own personal time and have to deduct or make up one hour spent out at the doctor. The first year I worked as exempt I had only seven days of vacation so when I had used that and was out for the afternoon at a doctors appt. they deducted the time from my pay. This occurs on a regular basis with all exempt employees at this company. In fact one employee came in early so that she could leave early and her time was deducted from her pay without telling her or consulting her manager. She had consulted her managerin advance and permission. It was later corrected. I would love to see legislation requiring the monitoring of companies and how they treat exempt employees!

    1. As an exempt employee, most state don’t allow employers to deduct money for missing a half day. Whether it’s 4 hours, or 12 hours, it’s still a day.

      I’d Google it for you, but I’m outie! 🙂

  16. I am being demoted from an exempt to a non exempt with the same responsibilities. I run a program and have done so for several years. I have enjoyed the exempt status because it gives me the freedom to not be a clock watcher and run my program effectively. I am unable to go over 40 hours. I am confined to "get the job done in 40" regardless. I would have to stay late come in early and write down my time, it will be a night mare I don't relish. I prefer to come and go when I need to and make sure the job is done and have the flexibility that I need. Going non-exempt is a slap in the face, I don't care how anyone tries to dress it up. Exempt positions reflect the positions that are held. It is an insult to have those types of responsibilities and be expected to punch a clock. I haven't done that since I worked at Wendy's.

  17. It is indeed illegal to deduct from exempt employees pay, unless they are completely absent for an entire day. If they work 6, they get paid for 8, etc etc., no ifs, ands, or buts..

  18. I wanted to revive this thread as I am in a similar boat. I am an outside sales person who, by FSLA law, does not spend at least 50% of my time outside. I was part of an acquisition one year back and as a result my job “title” changed, even though my job duties and everything encompassed with it has stayed the same.

    I was just notified that I am being changed to Non Exempt (hourly) from my salaried position. As far as I know, no one on my immediate team of sales people were switched to hourly, except for myself. My performance is not poor, nor have I ever been given any sort of actions in regards to performance.

    Why would they do this? And if it were solely based on the FSLA guidelines for what an Outside sales person is, wouldn;t everyone on my team be changed as well, since none of us hit the 50% travel time? In addition, if we are told to minimize travel (as a good sales tactic, and or as a result of budget) is this not counter to wanting us to be exempt? I was also notified by my superior that “if I perform well, i am eligible for a promotion in several months, which would change my job code, and thus take me out of non exempt to exempt” which then leads me to believe that this is soley based upon performance.

    Basically I am at a loss, and I dont even know where to start with questions. I am concerned this will effect my pay later down the road (both my EOY earnings as well as commission split), and that this will effect my standings within this company (it is a tech company and as many of us know, tech companies are notorious for lay offs).

    Should I be concerned? Is this standard to have an inconsistency amongst people with the same title, job, and department? Am I somehow being screwed here? Do I have legitimate concerns and should be skeptical?

    if someone can help me, anybody… I would greatly appreciate it!

    1. Since none of us have any inside knowledge, you need to take your question to your manager and your HR department.

      You may be doing slightly different work than your coworkers, which is why your title and status have been changed.

  19. I recently received a “change of status” from being exempt to nonexempt. I’m an IT support manager who runs things from servers, database to end users etc… The weird thing about this change, my manager or my acting manager (COO) didn’t know of this change till the same day I’ve received the letter. The call was made by the head of HR and approved and signed by the CEO.

    Please tell me if I should be concerned about my job? Do I need to start looking elsewhere? Everything remains the same, but my status of exemption.

    How can the HR influence the CEO and states “it’s the law”? Last I recall technology is an exempt status and for 10 years I’ve been exempt even at the entry level, computer systems analyst.

    Don’t get me wrong – I get OT which I work 45-50 hours weekly so more money for me. But, why just IT? Even other entry level positions are salary.

    Please advice.

    1. No company does this just because they want to. It’s a big pain and it’s more expensive for them. FLSA is a complex law and if HR is saying it’s the law, they are probably smart.

      I wouldn’t be surprised if this is as result of an audit.

      1. That’s what my manager said that the auditors will be the ones who can fix this issue. My manager isn’t happy about this change as I’m needed for anything and anytime. But, what law? HR referenced a law without explaining the verbiage nor giving me a copy of that law. When I googled it, all it states is about exempted employees and my position is listed under law. So what is HR talking about?

        1. By the audit, I meant, I bet that your company already WAS audited, either by the gov’t or by a law firm (at the company’s request) and the auditors determined your position should be non-exempt.

          The law is the Fair Labor Standards Act. See this: http://www.inc.com/suzanne-lucas/the-employment-law-you-are-probably-breaking.html

          They can’t really provide you a law because there isn’t a direct statement that says “this job is X and this job is Y.” You can certainly read up on it and make your case.

          They may have made a mistake, but it’s never illegal to pay someone by the hour and can be illegal to pay someone a salary.

          1. No, this wasn’t an audit issue. This is something else and I’m just concern about my livelihood and if I need to find another job. When I asked why? HR didn’t explain to me. All HR kept saying was my manager can fix this issue. Why would my manager fix this issue when it wasn’t even discussed. Something is fishy and I’m left in the dark.

            1. Without more info, I can’t explain, but it sounds like it’s within your manager’s ability to do something.

              I wouldn’t worry for your job, though. HR has no power over your employment. Only your boss does and since he was blindsided by this, I wouldn’t worry.

  20. My admin team decided to demote me out of an exempt position to an non-exempt position. I will share a few of the things I have learned as a result of educating myself through a slap in the face. First off, I work for a non-profit company – running a for profit store…. I was hired as a manager and after several months and high regards to job performance – I was told that the company is restructuring the hierarchy of the particular section of the organization. Rather than open an assistant position for my location – they are making me the assistant. Is this legal without any performance issues being brought to my attention?? Since there was previously only one other employee in this job category – do the two assistant job descriptions & duties have to match – or can they make up a different set of duties with the same title? I read that once an individuals exempt status is changed – the company is supposed to “relieve non exempt of all responsibilities that require use of independent judgement, supervisory duties or exercising discretion [and should] change the focus of job functions so it’s consistent with work performed by other hourly non exempt employees” (work.chron.com) so if my new position is responsible for day to day operations (in the absence of the exempt postion) and the exempt person is routinely absent for more than 50% of the time – my status change would be a waste of time. Also – I have read that changing an employees status can result in back paying OT – is this only when the job was misclassified or as compensation for breaching an implied contract? Which I do have – a copy of an evaluation stating goals for the next 9 months from my supervisor. Last comment – I found that my company was in direct violation of the minimum wage change in July of 2014 & I was not compensated at the correct rate of 2x the minimum wage (=$3120 month) for two months as an exempt salaried employee – should I create a severance package to present at my demotion meeting?

  21. I’m an accountant, and when I was hired I signed a contract stating I was an exempt employee with all the benefits of management. I’m the only accountant, so I oversee all the accounting functions. My position was changed from exempt to non-exempt. Can this happen without amending my contract?

  22. Mine is a long story but began with the CEO I worked very closely with being fired. As a result there was restructuring and my superviror without attempting so sit down and understand my job as Salesforce System administrator quickly wrote up a ridiculous duty listing which has no fit for what I do in a day. Long story short I made a few complaints which were retaliated with my working overtime and was breaking company policy. Two weeks later I was again written up because I worked beyond an 8 hr shift ) 9 Hrs even though my total hours were less than 30 for the week because of Holiday. (now understand in my 15 yr tenure I never had a write up and was a model employee. So after several meetings with human resources to rectify exactly what the requirements of my job are they have not decided to demote my non-exempt status to that of an hourly employee. Could anyone offer insight into what they may have up their sleeve.

  23. I’ve worked for a church for 6 years in a part-time position that had and has continued to have the title Church Administrator. The job and position description is now being reviewed by a member of the church on the Personnel Committee. From conversations with her my job title will be changed by at least one category because she says they were wrong to classify it as Administrator in the first place. Is this a fair/legal demotion? There are no performance issues. Additionally, they are using “guidelines” of position descriptions established by the National Office that are for “Fair Compensation Congregations” for which they do not meet the criteria.

  24. Hi there, does anyone know if you move from exempt to non-exempt, whether your company is liable to pay you for backpay? I’ve been in the same position for 5 years, the whole time have been classified as exempt and they are moving me to non exempt (my role isn’t changing). Thoughout my tenure, I’ve always worked way more than my “normal” hours. So had I been non-exempt the whole time, I would have earned a lot more money!!!! Thanks!

  25. Hi there, does anyone know if you move from exempt to non-exempt, whether your company is liable to pay you for backpay? I’ve been in the same position for 5 years, the whole time have been classified as exempt and they are moving me to non exempt (my role isn’t changing). Thoughout my tenure, I’ve always worked way more than my “normal” hours. So had I been non-exempt the whole time, I would have earned a lot more money!!!! Thanks!

  26. Who classifies a worker as exempt or non exempt? I work for a county govt. agency and I’m considered an Administrative Asst. I make 599.00 a week before taxes and I’m on salary, I have no authority and cannot hire or fire anyone I have no idea what they consider me whether it’s exempt or non exempt I don’t even know who to ask and if so do they have me classified wrong.

  27. I hate when people host sites, and offer advice….but the advice is full of ‘I don’t know’, ‘I don’t know your situation’, You didn’t tell me what you do”. Thats really stupid. If you don’t know then shut your website and do something else. Offer advice, say something, don’t just throw it back to the person who is asking for advice. Idiots.

  28. My state level work place is working on changing my job from classified (non-exempt) to exempt (administrative contract). My job duties have not changed drastically over the nearly 20 years I’ve worked there. Any changes that were made I’ve been doing as classified for at least 4 years. Can I contest or refuse to switch to exempt?

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