I work for an organization that runs two professional minor sports teams and so I have a question about exempt vs non-exempt. I have searched for information, but sports entertainment doesn’t pop up in the discussions. Most of our staff is labeled exempt by the organization including our inside sales “account executives.”
We normally work 40 hour weeks, but during the season it can stretch into longer hours. During the season, the majority of the staff work 9 to 5 during the week day and then weekends or evenings if there are games.
While overtime is not paid for the extra hours, staff is allowed to take an equal amount of time off within a week of the extra hours worked.
Please advise.
From the information you’ve given me, I have no way to judge whether you should be an exempt or non-exempt employee.
But, if you are given compensatory time within the same week then you are not going over 40 hours a week. The (general) rule for overtime eligible jobs is that overtime must be paid for more than 40 hours in a set work week. For exempt jobs, they can work you until you drop–or quit.
It sounds as if they have labeled you exempt, but are treating you like non-exempt employees in terms of monitoring hours. They appear to be covering all their bases. (Ha!–Little sports joke there!)
This has given you precisely no new information. I hope your teams win this year.
It always makes me wonder when people say NINE to five. That is 8 hours people. When do you eat? Do you get paid to eat at your desk or something? In my world people work 8.5 to 9 hours per day (if not working over time) and take a 30 or 60 min lunch. Yes – even most exempts I know do this. Who in the world is doing this 9 to 5 stuff and how can I sign up for it while still taking a 60 min lunch???!!!
You know, I used to have a job that was 37.5 hours a week. We did work 9 to 5 with a half hour lunch! Those were the days.
Then they switched us all to 40 hours a week and the exempt employees didn’t get a raise. Boo on that!