Just because you get a salary doesn’t mean you can’t earn overtime in California. Many businesses incorrectly label workers as “exempt” from overtime or as “salaried” to save money, which is against the law.
To be exempt from overtime, you need to:
- Make at least twice the minimum wage for full-time work.
- Spend most of your work time on tasks like managing, running administrative duties, or doing specialized professional work.
- Have the freedom to make important decisions in your job.
Some jobs, like doctors or software experts, have different rules. Talk to an employment lawyer to understand your specific situation.
If you don’t meet all these conditions, you should be getting paid for overtime. It doesn’t matter if your job title is “manager” or “team leader.” If you think you’ve been wrongly classified, you might be able to claim back pay for the overtime you’ve missed.
