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September 23, 2005
Dear Name*,
This is in response to your
letter questioning the application of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to
salary deductions for work of less than eight hours a day for a university
professor. As we explain below, under the FLSA, a university professor who fits
the exemption related to teachers is not subject to the salary requirements
applicable to other professionals.
Section 13(a)(1) of the FLSA
provides a complete minimum wage and overtime pay exemption for any employee
employed in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity, as
those terms are defined in 29 C.F.R. Part 541. The Department last year revised
the regulations in 29 C.F.R. Part 541 (copy enclosed) and published its final
rule in the Federal Register on April 23, 2004 (69 FR 22122). The effective
date of this final rule was August 23, 2004. Pursuant to section 541.600(a),
generally an exempt professional employee must be compensated on a salary basis
at a rate of not less than $455 per week. Section 541.602 defines the
requirement for payment on a “salary basis.” However, the compensation
requirements of a minimum salary level and payment on a salary basis do not
apply to employees engaged as teachers. See 29 C.F.R. § 541.303(d).
See also § 541.600(e).
The term “teacher” as defined in 29 C.F.R. § 541.303(a) means “any employee with a primary duty
of teaching, tutoring, instructing or lecturing in the activity of imparting
knowledge and who is employed and engaged in this activity as a teacher in an
educational establishment by which the employee is employed.” Section
541.204(b) defines an educational establishment as including an institution of
higher education.
Therefore, it is our opinion that university professors who qualify as teachers under the regulations may be
paid any amount and on any basis and such compensation may be subject to
deductions because the employee worked less than a full day. This conclusion is
consistent with our opinions issued under the old regulations, which similarly
provided that the compensation requirements did not apply to teachers. See
Opinion Letters dated October 20, 1997, September 25, 2000, and February 14, 2001 (copies enclosed).
This opinion is based exclusively on the facts and circumstances described in your request and is
given on the basis of your representation, express or implied, that you have
provided a full and fair description of all the facts and circumstances that
would be pertinent to our consideration of the question presented. Existence of
any other factual or historical background not contained in your request might
require a different conclusion than the one expressed herein. You have
represented that this opinion is not sought by a party to a pending private litigation
concerning the issue addressed herein. You have also represented that this
opinion is not sought in connection with an investigation or litigation between
a client or firm and the Wage and Hour Division or the Department of Labor. This
opinion letter is issued as an official ruling of the Wage and Hour Division
for purposes of the Portal-to-Portal Act, 29 U.S.C. § 259. See 29
C.F.R. §§ 790.17(d), 790.19; Hultgren v. County of Lancaster, Nebraska, 913 F.2d 498, 507 (8th Cir. 1990).
We trust that the above is responsive to your inquiry.
Sincerely,
Alfred B. Robinson, Jr.
Deputy Administrator
Enclosures: 29 C.F.R. Part 541
WH Opinion Letters
October 20, 1997
September 25, 2000
February 14, 2001
*Note: The actual name(s) was removed to preserve privacy in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552 (b)(7).
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