Most companies are required to pay employees overtime. However, there are several jobs that are exempt. If you work in one of these jobs, know the guidelines before you demand overtime pay.
- Salaried employees
Certain white collar employees who are paid a salary and work as an executive, administrative or computer professional do not receive overtime pay.
- Outside sales workers who are paid on a salary basis
- Volunteers for a government agency or profit or nonprofit charitable, educational or religious organization
- Individuals who reside or sleep at their place of employment
This category includes people who are on call for significant time periods.
- Agriculture workers
Employees on a farm, ranch, horticulture or any agriculture business may be exempt from overtime. In general, the business must grade, pack, package, store or deliver products.
Commercial ag businesses are also exempt if they cultivate, raise, harvest, can, freeze, process or deliver their own products or a mix of their own and someone else’s products.
- Newspaper vendors or carriers
- Casual laborers in private residences
Babysitters and adults or kids who mow lawns or remove snow do not receive overtime benefits. However, if individuals work for a company that provides these services, they will receive overtime pay.
- Public officials who are elected or appointed to their offices
- Youth camps workers, including YMCA, Scouts and church camps
- Seasonal agriculture fair employees who work less than 14 days a year per fair
- Forest protection and fire prevention personnel
- Inmates, residents or patients of any state or local correctional, detention, rehab or treatment center
- Seaman on American or foreign vessels
- Air carrier employees whose work volunteer hours while shift-trading
- Motion picture projectionists who work under contract or a collective bargaining agreement
- Washington State ferry crews who work on vessels operated by the DOT
In addition to these jobs that do not require overtime pay, four jobs do pay overtime but allow workers to receive an alternative form of overtime payment. They include:
- Firefighters and police officers who work certain tours of duty
- Commissioned salespeople who receive time and one-half of the minimum wage for the hours they work
- Retail or service establishment workers whose commissions equal more than half of their weekly wages
- Truck or bus drivers with a “reasonably equivalent” overtime compensation plan that’s approved by the Department of Labor and Industries
