With several wage and hour amendments set to become effective later this year, it’s important for employees to understand their rights in order to ensure they are paid all of the wages they deserve.
For example, employers may fail to pay workers overtime compensation that they are entitled to because they mistakenly classify them as “exempt.” With the salary threshold having recently been increased from $455/week to $913/week, millions of Americans who were previously considered exempt, and hence not able to receive overtime pay, may now be able to bring home significant additional wages.
While many more people may be considered “non-exempt” due to the threshold, once that threshold is achieved, it is still critical to determine whether a worker should rightfully be classified as “exempt v. non-exempt.” Workers who make over the salary threshold and perform a variety of “white-collar” duties may be considered exempt, and not entitled to overtime pay, regardless of the number of hours worked.
Further, how overtime pay is calculated also frequently leads to mistakes. Overtime pay is paid at one and one-half times an individual’s standard rate of pay. However, bonus pay and commissions may complicate how to determine exactly what one’s hourly rate is.
For more information, or if you have any questions concerning your compensation, please contact the experienced Atlanta wage and hour lawyers at Buckley Beal, LLP for an immediate consultation.