There is a range of versions that states and Congress are considering recently, to enact a reduction in the standard work week. One version, working 40 hours in four days, has been an option for employers for many years, as long as the employees agree to it as well. This allows the overtime rules to still apply to “non-exempt” roles, i.e., those which are paid for hours worked and must be given overtime pay rates when working more than the daily or weekly standards.
For positions that are “exempt” from wage and hour laws–those that are the type of role which qualifies for the exemption, and which must be paid a fixed salary above a certain threshold–there are no wage and hour rules for working hours per day or week. An exempt role gets paid for results, not for hours worked. Such roles include those that are generally termed “professional” or “knowledge” positions, leadership roles and sales jobs.
