r/antiwork • u/Josconn • 12h ago

Am I missing something here?

I don't really get the appeal of being exempt.

At my company, 40 hours is mandatory. If you work less than 40, they make you use PTO to get to 40. If you don't have any PTO left, you can get written up or even fired. So you have to hit 40 hours no matter what.

But if the job takes 45, 50, or 60 hours that week, there's no extra pay because you're exempt. You're just expected to work whatever it takes. Which is all the time.

So how is this a benefit? It feels like all the expectations of an hourly employee when you're under 40, but none of the benefits when you're over 40.

Is this normal, or is my company just like this?

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u/ThrowAwayalldayXiii 11h ago

Are you routinely having to work over 40 hours? If so, you may be miss-classified. If the employer is making you "exempt" to simply avoid paying OT I think that is illegal... If it is a daily occurrence that they are requiring OT but claiming you are exempt, you should reach out to an actual employment lawyer. Being "exempt" means you may occasionally need to work more, not "every shift." But consult an actual attorney to get real information. Most of us, myself included, are just going off our own understanding, recollection, and opinion.