What is one requirement for someone to qualify for an exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act?

To qualify for an exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the primary requirement is that the employee performs specific duties that meet the criteria outlined for various exemptions. The FLSA has established categories of exemptions, such as executive, administrative, professional, outside sales, and certain computer-related occupations. Each category has detailed job duties and salary thresholds that must be satisfied for an employee to be considered exempt from minimum wage and overtime pay provisions.

Being paid on an hourly basis would typically place an employee under the non-exempt category, where they would be entitled to overtime pay. Having prior work experience, while beneficial, is not a determinant for exemption status; it is the nature of the job duties that matters most. Additionally, holding a supervisory position alone does not guarantee an exemption unless the job duties performed align with the criteria specified for that exemption. Therefore, performing defined duties that meet exemption criteria is vital for qualification under the FLSA.