The Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) recently released a new fact sheet providing guidance on the “white collar” exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for positions common in Higher Education Institutions. These positions include teachers, coaches, professional employees, administrative employees, graduate teaching assistants, research assistants, and student residential assistants. As I know you know, the FLSA provides a so-called “white collar” exemption from minimum wage and overtime requirements for employees who perform executive, administrative, professional, or outside sales duties.

The new fact sheet notes that professors, instructors, and adjunct professors generally qualify under the exemption. The WHD also noted that “the regulations do not restrict where bona fide teaching may take place, to whom the knowledge can be imparted, or how many hours a teacher must work per week to qualify for the exemption.” Thus, the exemption may also apply to faculty who teach online or remotely.  The WHD notes that it is unlikely that recruiters qualify, and whether a coach qualifies depends on (among other things), the amount of time instructing student-athletes in a team sport. Additionally, the fact sheet indicates that professional employees including certified public accountants, psychologists, certified athletic trainers, librarians, and postdoctoral fellows, generally are exempt under the professional employees’ exemption. Employees may also be exempt under the administrative employees or the academic administrative employee’s exemption. Such employees may include admissions counselors, student financial aid officers, and department heads.

I think I’ve said this ad nauseam, but for each test, it is important to look at an employee’s actual job duties, qualification and education for determining whether an employee is exempt under any of the “white collar” exemptions. Employers cannot just rely on Fact Sheets, but must put each job to the test. Additionally, don’t forget the employee must also meet the salary basis test – currently a salary at a rate not less than $455 per week.