As the digital economy grows, more and more jobs are opening up for IT support employees who provide telephone-based technical assistance to other companies. Companies such as Geektek and Synoptic provide a wide range of IT support services. Employees in this industry work long hours to meet the immediate IT needs of their employer’s clients, who in many cases are in different regions or time zones.
To avoid paying overtime, companies frequently commit violations like misclassifying their IT support employees as salaried employees or making them perform work after hours, off the clock, or “on call.” The Department of Labor has provided important guidance on when IT support specialists and similar positions may be classified as “exempt” and paid a flat salary for all of their hours worked. IT workers who primarily troubleshoot and repair computer systems should be classified as hourly, non-exempt employees entitled to overtime pay. However, those who have a more in-depth role in creating and managing computer systems may be considered exempt.
Many IT support workers have sued their employers and recovered significant amounts of unpaid overtime. Employees in this industry should understand their rights and make sure they are properly classified. The Wage Authority Group is here to help.
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