FLSA status refers to whether an employee is classified as exempt or non- exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in the United States
. The FLSA is a federal law that safeguards employees against unjust pay and workplace practices, and it is governed by the US Department of Labor (DOL)
. The FLSA establishes several standards, including:
- Minimum wage
- Overtime pay criteria
- Recordkeeping guidelines
- Youth employment standards
These standards apply to workers at federal, state, and local government levels, as well as the private sector
. An employee's FLSA status determines whether they are eligible for overtime pay. Exempt employees are not eligible for overtime pay, while non-exempt employees are entitled to receive overtime pay for hours worked beyond the standard workweek
. To determine an employee's FLSA status, HR administrators, payroll specialists, and business owners need to consider factors such as the employee's weekly or annual salary, their payment method (salary or hourly), and their role and occupation
. The FLSA also provides exemptions for certain categories of employees, such as executive, administrative, professional, computer, and outside sales employees
