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Comment by rpwilcox | Hacker News Reader

IANAL, but I believe the law is slightly more nuanced than that:

http://www.dol.gov/compliance/topics/wages-overtime-pay.htm

Overtime doesn't apply to a number of class of workers (including executive, administration, professional, outside sales, and computer related workers).

And I believe you could read "professional" as "anyone with a college degree working a white-collar job".

Having said that, you're essentially correct...

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I believe "professional" effectively means "salaried". Salaried employees generally don't get overtime.

Details are in a page linked from the parent (see Learned Professional Exemption):

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/fairpay/fs17d_profess...

If you're a learned professional (matching all of the three criteria on the page - one of which is salaried), artist/creative, teacher, law/medicine practioner, or are highly compensated (making > $100,000/year) overtime doesn't apply to you.

At least, that's what I got out of the page.

The definition of Overtime is actually getting paid, yes? The law I am referring to over in the E.U is actually working, full stop - paid or not. I am at a position where I am not paid any overtime - I'm still not allowed to be present at work for more than 70 hours a week. Does nothing like this exist in the U.S? As in, you could technically work 168 hours with no legal ramifications?

From the US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division: http://www.dol.gov/whd/flsa/

> There is no limit on the number of hours employees 16 years or older may work in any workweek.

So, disregarding overtime, yes: you could technically work 168 hours a week with no legal ramifications.

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