Who Is Excluded from Wage and Hour Laws?
Sept. 2, 2021
People in Georgia have many different types of jobs. Some work part-time jobs at retail stores, restaurants or other businesses. Others work full-time at those locations, as well as construction, office settings, in the medical field, electricians, HVAC jobs and many other types of jobs. Others may be independent contractors performing many different types of jobs. Each of these jobs is unique, but people work these various jobs in order to earn income and provide for themselves and their families.
The goal of the companies that employ people is to also make money though and one way they can increase the amount that they make is by paying their employees less. To ensure that this does not occur and employees earn a fair amount, there are laws in place that force employers to pay employees minimum wage and more for overtime when they work more than 40 hours in a week. While this is true for many employees, there are exceptions to this rule.
Exempt Employees
Certain employees are exempt from these laws. Exempt employees include executives and supervisors who have control over firing and hiring employees. It also can include administrative employees to work directly for executives and have independent decision-making authority. There are also certain professionals with advanced academic degrees such as doctors, lawyers, accountants, architects, nurses, teachers and other professionals. The exempt employees do still need to be paid a minimum amount through salaries.
Employees work their jobs to earn income and it is important they are paid properly for what they do. There are many employees who earn a certain amount for each hour they work and are known as hourly employees. Others are paid a salary that does not change no matter how many hours they work. Both still need to be paid a minimum amount though and if their employers do not pay that amount, the employees may be entitled to compensation. Experienced attorneys know employees’ rights and may be able to help protect them.