Who are considered Exempt Employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act?

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), exempt employees are those who do not qualify for overtime pay and often receive a salary rather than an hourly wage. This category primarily includes salaried workers who meet specific criteria regarding their job duties, responsibilities, and salary level.

To be classified as exempt, these employees typically must be engaged in executive, administrative, professional, or outside sales duties and earn above a certain salary threshold. This distinction ensures that higher-level employees who are expected to manage their work without close supervision are compensated differently than hourly workers who may have set work hours and are entitled to overtime for any hours worked beyond the standard 40-hour workweek.

In contrast, hourly workers, temporary workers, and employees eligible for overtime are generally non-exempt. Non-exempt employees must receive overtime pay for hours worked beyond the standard limit, emphasizing the importance of understanding the classifications under the FLSA for both employers and employees.