The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a Federal Labor Law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, equal pay, record keeping, and child labor standards for employees. The law establishes the tests for determining whether an employee is subject to or exempt from minimum wage and overtime pay requirements.
University employees carry either an "exempt" or "non-exempt" status when it comes to compensation, overtime, and other minimum wage and salary requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The information below outlines the FLSA, the distinction between "exempt" and "non-exempt" statuses, and more.
Who is covered under the FLSA?
The minimum wage and overtime requirements of the FLSA apply to most employees in the United States. However, there are exemptions from the FLSA's requirements that are applicable to many employees working in higher education.
By law, the University of Pittsburgh is required to comply with the FLSA.
Non-Exempt vs. Exempt
Non-Exempt (Biweekly Pay) | Exempt (Monthly Pay) |
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This means an employee is not exempt from the FLSA's minimum wage and overtime requirements. In other words, a "non-exempt" employee is eligible for overtime.
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This means an employee is "exempt" from the FLSA's minimum wage and overtime requirements. Exempt employees in higher education include:
The exemption status of a University staff position is determined by the University’s Compensation Department within the Office of Human Resources and is done so in accordance with criteria established by the FLSA.
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Pay Type
Non-Exempt (Biweekly Pay) | Exempt (Monthly Pay) |
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Work Expectations
Non-Exempt (Biweekly Pay) | Exempt (Monthly Pay) |
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Compensatory Time
Compensation for hours worked between 37.5 hours and 40 hours in standard work week.
Non-Exempt (Biweekly Pay) | Exempt (Monthly Pay) |
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Overtime Pay
A rate of pay equal to one and one-half times the employee’s regular hourly rate of pay.
Non-Exempt (Biweekly Pay) | Exempt (Monthly Pay) |
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Federal Minimum Wage
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. Individual states may have different minimum wage rates, but the higher of the federal or state rate would apply. Please note: the minimum wage rate of Pennsylvania is currently $7.25 per hour.
Travel Time
If your position requires you to travel away from your regular work site, that time may be considered compensable. Review these guidelines for differences in types of travel and whether it is compensable. The Department of Labor provides additional guidelines on travel and hours worked.
More Information about the FLSA
The University electronically posts required workplace notices, including "Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards Act." The University's Office of Human Resources also has additional guidance on the FLSA, including information on how to accurately record work time.
If you require additional information on FLSA, contact the HR Compensation team by submitting an online inquiry.