Comments on: “Reclassification” http://survivingtheworkday.com/2008/04/29/reclassification/ spirituality in the workplace Sat, 22 Nov 2008 17:25:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Ms. Theologian http://survivingtheworkday.com/2008/04/29/reclassification/#comment-2963 Ms. Theologian Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:35:05 +0000 http://survivingtheworkday.com/2008/04/29/reclassification/#comment-2963 It seems to me that intent is key to understanding reclassification in terms of whether or not it is screwing the employee. I would guess that most of the time it does, and is intended to save the employer money. It seems to me that intent is key to understanding reclassification in terms of whether or not it is screwing the employee. I would guess that most of the time it does, and is intended to save the employer money.

]]> By: h sofia http://survivingtheworkday.com/2008/04/29/reclassification/#comment-2960 h sofia Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:19:18 +0000 http://survivingtheworkday.com/2008/04/29/reclassification/#comment-2960 The biggest benefit of salary, I found, was the flexibility. There were times when OT was necessary to get the work done, and times when it was slower. They balanced each other out. One could deal with fluctuations in work load without having fluctuations in income. Too often, unfortunately, exempt status is an excuse for employees to be doing more work than their FTE (full time equivalent) allows for. Kind of like that tomato picking thing. The biggest benefit of salary, I found, was the flexibility. There were times when OT was necessary to get the work done, and times when it was slower. They balanced each other out. One could deal with fluctuations in work load without having fluctuations in income.

Too often, unfortunately, exempt status is an excuse for employees to be doing more work than their FTE (full time equivalent) allows for. Kind of like that tomato picking thing.

]]> By: GhostGirl http://survivingtheworkday.com/2008/04/29/reclassification/#comment-2952 GhostGirl Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:19:27 +0000 http://survivingtheworkday.com/2008/04/29/reclassification/#comment-2952 That's funny. Meanwhile, our dept doesn't allow hourly OT and we're currently trying to get our last two hourly workers onto salary so that we can let them work OT again. That may sound awful but keep in mind both of them desperately want to work OT not for the money but so they can actually get their work done. I had a hard time keeping one of them from working unrecorded OT when I managed her. That’s funny. Meanwhile, our dept doesn’t allow hourly OT and we’re currently trying to get our last two hourly workers onto salary so that we can let them work OT again.

That may sound awful but keep in mind both of them desperately want to work OT not for the money but so they can actually get their work done. I had a hard time keeping one of them from working unrecorded OT when I managed her.

]]> By: Ms. Theologian http://survivingtheworkday.com/2008/04/29/reclassification/#comment-2949 Ms. Theologian Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:00:22 +0000 http://survivingtheworkday.com/2008/04/29/reclassification/#comment-2949 Well, I see evil everywhere (and good!), so I'm not the one to ask. :) The other issue is that overtime is often strictly regulated by a manager so it's not as if everyone can makeup the wages lost (or should have to). Well, I see evil everywhere (and good!), so I’m not the one to ask. :) The other issue is that overtime is often strictly regulated by a manager so it’s not as if everyone can makeup the wages lost (or should have to).

]]> By: Mile High Pixie http://survivingtheworkday.com/2008/04/29/reclassification/#comment-2948 Mile High Pixie Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:56:16 +0000 http://survivingtheworkday.com/2008/04/29/reclassification/#comment-2948 Are they sure about the "nothing evil about that" part? Cutting people's pay because "now they can make overtime?" If you have to work 50 hrs/wk in order to make what you used to get in 40 hrs, then that's abuse, not "opportunity." Having said that, my husband and I are both architects with 9 and 8 years of experience, respectfully. While he makes about $13,000 more than I do, he's salary and I'm hourly, and I am indeed paid overtime and bonuses when projects end. Last year, I ended up making $300 more than he did. (And I secretly loved watching him sweat when he figured that out while doing our taxes.) Also, I work for a smaller private firm (150 employees) and he works for a larger nationwide company (40 here in town, and about 1,000 across the country). Are they sure about the “nothing evil about that” part? Cutting people’s pay because “now they can make overtime?” If you have to work 50 hrs/wk in order to make what you used to get in 40 hrs, then that’s abuse, not “opportunity.”

Having said that, my husband and I are both architects with 9 and 8 years of experience, respectfully. While he makes about $13,000 more than I do, he’s salary and I’m hourly, and I am indeed paid overtime and bonuses when projects end. Last year, I ended up making $300 more than he did. (And I secretly loved watching him sweat when he figured that out while doing our taxes.) Also, I work for a smaller private firm (150 employees) and he works for a larger nationwide company (40 here in town, and about 1,000 across the country).

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