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Glossary
Attorney’s Fees. If successful, Federal law allows for this to
be paid by the employer as part of the employees damages. (This is not first for any special reason
other than it starts with an “A.”)
Covered
Employees. Employees covered by the
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), meaning due overtime and minimum wage. While there are a number of “exemptions,” the
Act covers employers engaged in “interstate commerce” or in the production of
goods for interstate commerce, or in any closely-related process or occupation
directly essential to such production.
“Interstate commerce” covers many, many businesses.
Duties Test. For a position to be “exempt” from the FLSA,
the position must be listed and the employee must actually perform the
particular duty. The title of the job
really does not matter as much as the actual job duties.
Exemptions. Some employees are exempt from the
overtime pay provisions or both the minimum wage and overtime pay
provisions. Exemptions are generally
narrowly defined under the FLSA. See Exemptions
for more detail.
FLSA (Fair Labor
Standards Act). Establishes minimum
wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor standards affecting
full-time and part-time workers in the private sector and in Federal, State,
and local governments.
Hours Worked. Covered employees must be paid for all hours
worked in a work week. In general, “hours
worked” includes all time an employee must be on duty, or on the employer’s
premises or at any other prescribed place of work. Also included is any additional time the
employee is allowed or permitted work.
Independent
Contractor. Under the FLSA, a person who is an independent contractor is
not entitled to overtime pay from the person who hired them. First determine if you are an “independent
contractor,” then you can decide if you are owed overtime. Some criteria for
being labeled an independent contractor include:
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The
amount of control your employer has over you;
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If
there is an opportunity for profit that is not controlled by your employer;
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The
skill and effort required in the job; and,
-
The
permanency of the employment relationship.
Regular Rate. Overtime is calculated at one and one-half
times an employee’s regular rate of pay.
Divide total pay, not just base pay, by the total number of hours
worked. The total pay can include
productivity bonuses and incentives for odd shift work.
Retaliation. It
is against the law to fire or discriminate against an employee for filing a
complaint or for participating in a legal proceeding for violation of overtime
pay or wage and hour requirements. If
your employer has done this, they can be held responsible both civilly and
criminally for their actions.
Statute of
Limitations. The right to sue for
overtime pay expires with time. If an
employee files suit for back pay, all that can be recovered is pay up to two
years prior. If the employee can prove
the underpayment by the employer was willful or reckless, back pay can be
recovered up to three years prior.
Workweek. A workweek is a period of 168 hours during 7
consecutive 24-hour periods. It may
begin on any day of the week and at any hour of the day established by the
employer. Generally, for purposes of
minimum wage and overtime payment each workweek stands alone; there can be no
averaging of 2 or more workweeks.
Employee coverage, compliance with wage payment reuirements,
and the application of most exemptions are determined on a workweek basis.
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