How is a non-exempt employee defined in the context of suspension?

A non-exempt employee is defined as one who is entitled to overtime pay benefits. This classification is significant in labor law, particularly under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which differentiates between exempt and non-exempt employees based on their job duties and salary. Non-exempt employees must be paid at least the minimum wage for all hours worked and are entitled to overtime pay at a rate of one and a half times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.

This classification impacts how suspensions and other forms of disciplinary action are handled, particularly regarding pay. For instance, if a non-exempt employee is suspended for a day, they would typically not receive pay for that day since they are paid hourly and do not receive a salary that continues during suspensions. Understanding the definition of non-exempt employees helps in ensuring compliance with wage and hour laws during any disciplinary processes.