What distinguishes "exempt" employees from "non-exempt" employees?

The distinction between exempt and non-exempt employees primarily revolves around overtime pay regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Exempt employees are those who are not entitled to overtime pay, meaning they do not receive additional compensation when working beyond the standard 40 hours in a workweek. This classification typically applies to salaried workers in managerial, professional, and certain administrative roles, where the nature of the work often does not align with hourly compensation models.

By contrast, non-exempt employees are entitled to overtime pay, which is typically calculated at one and a half times their hourly rate for any hours worked over 40 in a given week. This classification usually includes positions that are more task-oriented and have clearly defined work hours, driving the need for overtime compensation when those hours exceed the standard.

The other answer choices introduce misunderstandings about these classifications. For example, claiming exempt employees receive salary only is misleading, as it's possible for non-exempt employees to also be salaried, depending on their specific job duties and the organization's structure. Similarly, saying non-exempt employees are only part-time is incorrect since non-exempt employees can be full-time or part-time. Lastly, the assertion that non-exempt employees receive no benefits is inaccurate; benefits