Most New York employers are subject to both federal and state minimum wage and overtime requirements. In most cases, this means the employer must pay its employees at least the minimum wage for all hours worked and time-and-a-half for hours over 40 in a week. There are, however, many exceptions to these requirements. This post addresses the administrative exemption under both the FLSA and New York law.
(Click here for A Quick Guide of the New York State and federal Professional exemptions.)
(Click here for A Quick Guide of the New York State and federal Executive exemptions.)
FLSA Administrative Exemption
Despite the name, the “administrative” exemption does not necessarily apply to administrative assistants or certain other employees with “administrative” roles. In fact, it more often applies to director and executive level employees.
Under the FLSA (the federal minimum wage/overtime law), employees may be exempt under the administrative exemption if:
- They are compensated on a salary or fee basis of at least $684 per week;
- Their primary duty is the performance of office or non-manual work directly related to the management or general business operations of the employer or the employer’s customers; and
- Their primary duty includes the exercise of discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance.
New York Administrative Exemption
Under New York State law, employees can be exempt from minimum wage and overtime requirements if:
- Their primary duties consist of the performance of office or non-manual field work directly related to management policies or general operations of the employer;
- They customarily and regularly exercise discretion and independent judgment;
- They regularly and directly assists the employer or an executive employee, or perform, under only general supervision, work along technical or specialized lines that requires special training, experience or knowledge; and
- They receive a sufficient weekly salary*.
*The weekly salary threshold now depends on geographic location within New York State. For more, see 2023 New York Minimum Wage.
Summary
Some of the areas in which employees eligible for the administrative exemption may work include: finance, accounting, purchasing, marketing, research, human resources, IT, and legal. But not all employees in these areas are eligible for exemption.
The administrative exemptions only apply to certain employees whose actual job situations meet the requirements. Job titles do not automatically determine exemption, nor does the fact that the employee receives a salary.
Employers should periodically review employees’ job duties to determine whether they qualify for exemption.
In addition, employers must consider whether an employee’s salary remains high enough to qualify for the exemption. Under New York law, the threshold is increasing annually, and at higher rates in some parts of the state. Remember that it is not enough to satisfy the federal salary threshold. When the New York threshold is higher, the employee would need to receive the higher salary level to be fully exempt (unless a different New York state exemption applies).
Read about the New York State and FLSA Professional Exemptions here.
Read about the New York State and FLSA Executive Exemptions here.