What is an Exempt Employee?

An exempt employee works at a certain salary level and is exempt from the protections allotted by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). These employees must work in one of the following: professional, administrative, executive, computer, or outside sales roles. The Department of Labor uses a duties test to see if an employee who fits into one of these roles meets the criteria.

The ultimate meaning of the matter is that exempt employees are not required to receive overtime pay from the employer.

This makes me wonder what the benefits are for the employee…

Oh wait, I already know! The advantages for the employee are a higher wage that must be met to be exempt, which has the perk of…being paid more…and the employer cannot deduct wages for hours not worked.

So is being an exempt employee good?

Little column a, little column b.