Is it illegal to be on salary unless you have at least two direct reports?

I had heard this Friday.

If so, at least one company I know of would potentially be in big trouble.

 

Huh? Please elaborate, L.T.

 

Reports? Reporters? Yes, please clarify.

 

Columbo is trying to say you're supposed to hourly unless you're the boss of two people.

 

Depends on the state, I believe.

 

Depends on the job, too. Columnists or some type of "senior reporter" can be on salary. They may not supervise anyone but are considered experts and in some cases technically may have to provide guidance or training to others.

 

This is yet another labor law commonly violated by the newspaper industry.

 

I would say it's a gray area that newspapers fight hard to maintain.

 

I would think it depends on the state. As far as I know, here in Ontario, it is perfectly legal to pay any employee on a salary wage, so long as that salary still constitutes minimum hourly wage or higher.

 

That's not the case in Florida, and I suspect that's the case across the country as well. Employers can pay anyone an annual salary for any position, whether they're a supervisor or not.

 

Wrong, I looked into this about five years ago. To be salaried at a daily newspaper, the employee most supervise at least two employees, be under contract, be a columnist or senior writer or work for a paper with a circulation of under 3,000.

And the kicker is it's illegal to force any hourly employee to work over 40 hours a week.

 

Specifically at newspapers? If so, why? I've never heard of that in any of the northeast states I've worked in.

In other businesses, I don't know anyone other than computer programming consultants who are hourly employees - and they are considered contractors anyway.