Overtime Laws Affecting Computer Programmers
On September 30, 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 10 ("AB 10"), which effective January 1, 2009 alters the standard exemptions from California's overtime compensation requirements for a limited scope of computer professionals. AB 10 does NOT exempt from overtime all computer programmers or information systems employees. The new exemption only covers certain highly compensated computer systems analysts, programmers and software engineers.
Employment Law Qaulifications For Overtime Exemption
To qualify for the computer professional exemption, employees must satisfy the following criteria:
1.Job Duties. The employee must spend more than half of their time in work that is "intellectual or creative" and requires the exercise of discretion and independent judgment; and the employee's primary duties must consist of one or more of the following:
- systems analysis, including consulting with users, to determine hardware, software or system functional specifications; OR
- design, development, documentation, analysis, creation, or modification of computer systems or programs, including prototypes, based on and related to, user or system design specifications; OR
- documentation, testing, creation, or modification of computer programs related to the design of software or hardware for computer operating systems.
2. Skill Level/Compensation. The employee must be highly skilled and proficient in the theoretical and practical application of highly specialized information to computer systems analysis, programming, or software engineering. Additionally, the employee must earn at least $36.00 per hour or a salary of $75,000 per year. This compensation level will be adjusted each year based upon the increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers.
3. Specific Exceptions. Employees in the following jobs will NOT qualify for this overtime exemption:
- Trainees or entry-level employees;
- Employees in computer-related occupations lacking the expertise to work independently;
- Employees engaged in the operation of computers or in the manufacture, repair, or maintenance of computer hardware and related equipment;
- Engineers, drafters, machinists, or other professional employees whose work is highly dependent upon or facilitated by the use of computers and computer software programs and who are skilled in computer-aided design software, including CAD/CAM;
- Writers engaged in writing content material either for print or for onscreen media; and
- Computer professionals engaged in creating imagery for effects used in motion picture, television, or theatrical industries.
Conclusion
In sum, the computer professional overtime exemption codified in California Labor Code Section 515.5, may provide some overtime relief for employers of highly skilled and highly compensated computer professionals, but it is not a broad based exemption for high tech employees.
