2

Currently, I work for a company that gave me a written letter of offer (a few months ago) that stated expressly:

You will be eligible to receive the following beginning on your first day:

Salary: Weekly salary of $X ($Z / Year)

...

When I discussed this fact with my supervisor, indirectly (due to my wanting to acquire keys to our buildings), he stated that he was worried about overtime with their usage/acquirement (even though I had never reported any such time...or any time for that fact) and when asked that "I don't get overtime because I am salary, correct? I haven't reported any, ever." he replied "No No, you get paid time and a half for anything over 40 hours a week. You are hourly." - He was very polite and nice about this, but I am confused by this and my written letter of offer. I was under the impression I am salary (i.e. that my wages are GUARANTEED for each week and that I do NOT get any overtime).

With this information in mind, would it be safe to conclude that I am salaried exempt or that I am salaried non-exempt or just plain hourly? I do not want to escalate the issue in fear of causing some kind retribution or action(s) against me, my perks, and my pay scale. Should I ask our "HR" department (which is really just the VP of accounting)? I just want clarity.

Improve this question
5
  • 5
    Ask HR. Get the answer in writing.
    – keshlam
    Commented Aug 18, 2016 at 22:09
  • @keshlam that seems like the obvious answers...but I do not want to jeopardize my "position" or "status" if I am not salaried (I much rather prefer salary...obviously)
    – G.T.D.
    Commented Aug 18, 2016 at 22:19
  • 2
    Asking isn't going to change anything. Relax.
    – keshlam
    Commented Aug 18, 2016 at 22:26
  • 1
    You can still be exempt but paid hourly. I am, and am guaranteed my base "salary" of 40 hrs/week. I'm also paid straight time (same hourly rate) for any hours over 8*days-in-pay-period. If they're willing to by 1.5 instead...that's great!
    – mkennedy
    Commented Aug 19, 2016 at 17:24
  • @keshlam I checked with my HR Rep the other day and I am Salaried Non-Exempt. I get paid time and a half after 40 hours per week. Thanks for the advice.
    – G.T.D.
    Commented Aug 21, 2016 at 2:25

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
1

Salaried and overtime exempt are not the same, as you know from your question.

The first step is to talk to HR (VP of Accounting in your case) and confirm what they think you are (Salary Exempt, Salary Non-Exempt, or Hourly).

You ideally want to be Salary Non-Exempt because then you get paid for your overtime... yay!

The second step would be to investigate the Exempt, Non-Exempt rules and determine if the company has calculated properly. If your company says you're Exempt, but you think you should be Non-Exempt, then you have to decide if it is worth pursuing. That would likely involve a lawyer and ruffling feathers at your new job.

(It sounds like you're not expecting to be paid overtime, so this may not apply to you specifically)

Improve this answer
-2

Plainly, your supervisor's out of the loop. You are salaried, because that's the offer that they've asked you to accept. The supervisor doesn't approve or generate the offer letter, and has probably never seen it.

Improve this answer
2
  • He sent it to me on my first day of the job. He is one of the VP's...I did not think it mattered.
    – G.T.D.
    Commented Aug 18, 2016 at 22:13
  • 2
    Doesn't mean he READ it!!! lmao
    – Xavier J
    Commented Aug 18, 2016 at 22:14

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .