Under California wage and hour law, computer software professionals can qualify for overtime exemption if they meet certain duties requirements and are paid a specified hourly rate, set annually based on inflation rates by the state Department of Industrial Relations. On Jan. 1, 2007, the minimum hourly rate for exempt computer software professionals will be $49.77, up from $47.81 in 2006. If you employ exempt computer software pros, be sure to change their pay rates if necessary to make sure you don’t lose the exemption in the new year. Keep in mind that computer software employees receiving less than the minimum required must be paid time and one-half for all hours worked in excess of 8 per day or 40 per week

Paying Overtime: 10 Key Exemption Concepts

Only one thing really matters in the determination as to whether or not an employee is exempt: The duties the employee performs. Learn how to avoid costly, preventable mistakes with our free White Paper, Paying Overtime: 10 Key Exemption Concepts.