Professional Overtime Exemptions
According to existing labor laws and regulations, professional exemptions from overtime pay occur whenever a person has obtained a certain degree of education or has taken up job duties that require an increased amount of skill. However, while some jobs are exempt, others that may seem similar enough are not.
For more information regarding your rights as an employee and a free consultation, contact the Houston employment attorneys of the Ross Law Group today at 800-634-8042.
Specific Exemptions
Unlike other exemptions to overtime pay standards, determining who is and who is not exempt due to professional qualifications can be slightly more uncertain. Generally speaking, the professional exemption requires the following to be true in order to not be provided with overtime pay:
- Advanced degrees or specialized education
- Performing intellectual work instead of physical labor
- Work that requires independent judgment or thinking
- Work that is predominately creative
Unlike standards that may set specific income sums or recognize particular language in terms of job descriptions, these standards may need to be defined according to job description and actual work done in a regular work day. This can mean that a scientist may be exempt from overtime pay, but the technicians in laboratories and research centers may not be. Similarly, bookkeepers may find overtime pay available while accountants and actuaries may not.
Contact Us
What is and is not permissible in terms of wages and work hours can vary depending on the specific terms of employment. To learn more about overtime exemptions for white-collar work, contact the Houston employment lawyers of the Ross Law Group by calling 800-634-8042. Let our experience and knowledge of the law help you work through your legal issues today.