Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Frequently Asked Questions

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a federal law that establishes minimum wage, distinguishes between covered (non-exempt) and excluded (exempt) employees, overtime threshold (40 hours in a week), overtime pay, record keeping requirements, and youth employment standards for employees in the private sector and in federal, state and local governments.

Exempt employees are excluded from overtime payment. Non-exempt employees are eligible for overtime. Exemption is based the “primary duties” of the position and qualifying for all three of the following tests:

• Duty and Discretion Tests
  • Employee must qualify as an Executive, Administrator, Professional or Computer Professional.
• Salary Basis Test
  • Employee must be paid on an annual salary basis.
• Minimum Salary Threshold Test
  • Employees must be paid above a salary threshold amount that is currently $684 per week or $35,568 annually.

More information about the FLSA and overtime exemptions is available on the Department of Labor’s website.

If you are in a position that is evaluated and determined to be non-exempt, you will become eligible to earn overtime wages or compensatory time at the rate of time-and-one-half if you work over 40 hours during a given workweek. The university’s work week is Saturday at 12 a.m. through midnight Friday. Overtime hours must be pre-approved by your supervisor prior to working the hours.  

You must meet the standards of the exemption tests based on the primary duties of your position regardless of your job title. For an exemption to apply, a white-collar employee’s specific job duties and salary must meet all of the applicable requirements provided in the United States Department of Labor (DOL) regulations. Accordingly, the duties test must be met even if the employee’s salary exceeds the standard salary level of $684 per week or $35,568 annually.

Non-exempt employees must accurately report all hours worked and any leave taken during each university work week in one of the time/leave recording systems (i.e. the Leave and Time Worked Reporting System, TimeClock Plus, or paper form). Departmental leave representative can provide guidance on which method the department uses as the source of record. Each non-exempt employee is responsible for ensuring that all time worked and leave taken are accurately reflected on their timecard; and the timecard must be approved by the employee and supervisor by the established leave or payroll approval deadlines depending on the time keeping system being used. Failure to approve the timecard by the established deadline may jeopardize on-time processing and receipt of pay or compensatory leave.

Per University Policy 4300: Hours of Work, “Employees working at least six consecutive hours shall be afforded, at a minimum, a 30-minute meal break. However, employee meal breaks shall not exceed 60 minutes a day. The meal break shall not be included in either the attendance or the hours of work per day, except when the employee is not completely free of all duties during the meal break.

Department heads, at their discretion, may grant employees working an eight-hour day, a maximum of one break before the meal break and one break after the meal break. These rest breaks are included within the total required hours of work and shall not exceed 15 minutes each.

The FLSA requires that employers keep certain records for each non-exempt worker. That is so workers can be sure they are paid the wages they earn and are owed. Each department will establish the timekeeping method they deem most appropriate for their operational needs (in accordance with applicable FLSA regulations and university policies).

The FLSA does not set forth these types of stipulations. Each department determines and establishes policies and procedures (in accordance with applicable FLSA regulations and university policies) as deemed appropriate in support of the departments’ needs.

Generally, travel away from home is considered work time when it cuts across the employee’s normal workday. This includes hours worked on regular working days during normal working hours as well as corresponding hours on nonworking days. Refer to University Policy 4320: Guidelines for the Fair Labor Standards Act for more information.

For units using the Electronic Leave System, a manager/supervisor will approve time on a monthly basis in accordance with the established leave approval deadlines. System user and approver information may be found in the Resource Guide:

• Leave Representative Manual
• Non-exempt Employee Leave Entry
• Exempt Employee Leave Entry
• Supervisory Approval
• Employee Recall Report

For units using TimeClock Plus, a manager/supervisor will approve an employee’s time at minimum on a semi-monthly basis in accordance with the established payroll deadlines.  

Overtime-eligible employees are paid overtime for hours worked over 40 hours in the workweek.

Overtime is calculated based on the workweek. The university’s work week is Saturday 12 a.m. through midnight Friday.

A seven (7) day period in which the required working hours for full-time employees equal forty (40) hours, with distribution of such hours during the workweek a matter of scheduling left to the individual departments.

Overtime is paid on actual hours worked. That means paid hours that are not actually worked, such as vacation, sick, and holiday pay do not count toward being paid overtime. 

According to state and federal law, overtime begins after an overtime-eligible employee has worked in excess of 40 hours in the workweek; there are no adjustments or pro-rations if someone works less than 40 hours.

Overtime is calculated at one and one-half times the employee’s regular rate of pay for hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek.

Yes, you always need to get approval from your manager/supervisor in advance if you plan or need to work more than 40 hours in a workweek to meet the expectations of your job.

You will be paid for time worked in accordance with applicable regulations; however, you and your manager should discuss your work schedule prior to working any overtime. Failure to obtain approval in advance of working overtime may result in disciplinary action.

Yes. If you are a non-exempt employee, you must report all hours worked including nights or weekends if they are outside of your normal work schedule and location. Employees should work with their supervisor to determine if Virginia Tech applications should be accessed when working outside of their normal work schedule.

If you are a non-exempt employee working from home, you must report all hours worked, regardless of where or when they are worked in relation to your “normal” workday.

If you and your supervisor agree to a flextime schedule, you can continue to work a flextime schedule upon mutual agreement between you and your supervisor. As a non-exempt employee, you must report all hours worked within a workweek, and you will be paid accordingly.

No, non-exempt employees must be compensated for all hours actually worked.

No, the overtime requirement may not be waived under any circumstances due to federal guidelines.

To calculate my hourly pay, will need the number of work hours in a year:

• 40-hour workweek x 52 weeks in a year = 2,080 work hours in a year

Next:

• Divide your annual salary by 2,080 (number of work hours in a year)
  • Example: $30,014.40 divided by 2,080 = $14.43 per hour

If full-time, multiply your hourly rate by 80 (two weeks in a pay period x 40 hours in each workweek).

• Example: $14.43 x 80 = $1,154.00

Non-exempt salary employees are paid in accordance with the university’s salary payroll schedule on a semi-monthly pay schedule (24 pay period per calendar year). The Salary Payroll Schedule is available online.

You will not need to change your direct deposit information as part of this change. Any direct deposit authorizations you have set up will continue after your pay frequency changes.

No. If you are signed up to have money deducted from your check for a supplemental retirement account, these deductions will continue.  

No. You will continue to earn the same sick, annual, compensatory accrual rates per your years of service. Leave accruals post in the Electronic Leave System after each pay period on the 10^th and 25^th of each month.