Journalists and reporters are often considered "creative professionals," and therefore are not often eligible for overtime, according to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
But our
Houston, Texas fair wage lawyers want to remind those in the media fields that certain job descriptions and tasks create a very fine line between using creativity and performing general work. That fine line can mean a difference in hundreds or thousands of dollars in your paycheck.
What exactly does this mean? According to the FLSA, those employees whose primary tasks require them to use invention, imagination, originality, or talent in writing, acting, music, graphic arts, or another recognized field or creative endeavor are exempt from overtime. In other words, people who work creatively the majority of the time are ineligible to receive overtime pay.
Some of the most common creative professional tasks that make an individual exempt from overtime include:
- Performing on air on the radio;
- Conducting investigative interviews;
- Analyzing or interpreting public events;
- Narration;
- Performing on television or other electronic media;
- Writing editorial or opinion columns;
- Working as a commentator.
People who do these jobs for a living are only exempt from overtime if this is their
primary line of work. For example, if 90% of the time a person is fact checking or collecting public information and then on the air for 10% of the time, he or she might still be entitled to overtime pay.
Save your paycheck by learning the facts. The best way to determine whether or not you should be receiving overtime is to ask an
experienced fair overtime lawyer in Houston, not your employer. The lawyers at Kennedy Hodges dedicate their practice to helping those who are having issues with their employers and the Fair Labor Standards Act, which is why they wrote
The Ten Biggest Mistakes that Can Hurt Your Wage and Overtime Claim, which discusses issues like fair pay and overtime compensation. Call 888.449.2068 today for your free case review and free book.
Category: General
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