Here is another short True/False quiz to test your HR and employment law knowledge:
1. You cannot require an exempt employee to punch a time clock. T ____ F____
False – You can, and we recommend that you require exempt employees to keep a time record. However, unlike non-exempt employees (even those paid by salary), you are not required to keep time records of the exempt employees’ working hours.
2. The Fair Labor Standards Act requires employers to provide meal periods. T ____ F____
False – Rest and meal periods regulations are left for the States to decide, and the results vary widely, so be sure to check your state’s law. Federal law does provide that if you do give employees a meal period, they must be completely relieved from duty for the time to be unpaid, and “watching the phones” is not relieved of all duties. Federal law also provides that short breaks, up to 20 minutes, if offered, must be paid.
3. You may require an exempt employee to work 50 hours per week, and make up time he or she has missed. T ____ F____
True – It is something of a myth that exempt employees may decide how many hours to work, and that myth was put to rest by the DOL opinion letter.