Definition
An employee classification that sounds like a get-out-of-jail-free card but actually means you're exempt from overtime pay, not from working yourself to death. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, these salaried professionals can work 60-hour weeks without seeing an extra dime, all because they're deemed 'executive' or 'professional' enough. The cruel irony is that being exempt often means you're imprisoned by your inbox 24/7.
Example Usage
As an exempt employee, Sarah learned that 'flexible hours' really meant her boss expected her to be available during all the hours, ever.
Source: HR and employment law terminology
Related Terms
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See “exempt” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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