Are exempt employees who work extra hours owed additional pay?
Question
The next couple weeks are going to be busier than usual for us. Can I require my exempt employees to work weekends? If so, do I need to pay them for the extra hours?
Answer
Yes, you can require an exempt employee to work weekends and not pay them extra, assuming they are properly classified this way. It’s pretty standard for exempt employees to be asked to work late or put in additional time on occasion, and in most cases, there is no expectation of extra pay. Although there are some exceptions, exempt employees are generally entitled to their full salary regardless of how many hours they work during the week—in other words, taking a long lunch, leaving early, or working extra hours in the evening or on a weekend doesn’t change their pay.
Answer by Marisa Stoll, SPHR
Marisa has experience working in a wide variety of HR areas, including payroll, staffing, and training. Having supported HR functions in various industries, Marisa is able to apply her knowledge to each client’s particular situation. Marisa earned her B.S. in Business Administration and Communications from the University of Oregon. She loves watching sports, volunteering and spending time with her two dogs.
