I use to work for a company in Nebraska and several of ther employees would work 40+ work weeks. Initially when i was promoted to a management position i was on salary, but then in February of this year the managers were informed that we were not suppose to be on salary and had to be moved to hourly. for the time i was on salary i was putting in 40, 50, 60 or more hours a week. if the company found out this was done incorrectly are they obligated to compensate?

Also i was transfered to the corporate office to do general office work. when the end of the pay period came around everyone had to submit their time card reports... if they (employees) worked 40+ they were not paid 40+ unless they were authorized. to my understanding if someone work 40+ as a general employee they're suppose to be paid (authorized or not)? is this correct?

Who do i need to contact? or can you help me with this situation?

if the company found out this was done incorrectly are they obligated to compensate?

The best answer I can give you is maybe. It depends on (a) whether it was incorrect by law or by company policy; (b) whether the change of your duties was before or after August 23, 2004 and (c) probably a couple of other factors I can't think of offhand.

to my understanding if someone work 40+ as a general employee they're suppose to be paid (authorized or not)? is this correct?

I think what you're saying is that people who worked unauthorized overtime were not paid for it. If so, you are correct that in general that must be paid, assuming the employee is non-exempt -there is in at least one state an occasional exception to that. (An employee who is exempt never has to be paid additional compensation no matter how many hours he works.) However, an employee who worked unauthorized overtime can be disciplined in any other way except refusal to pay, including termination, so it would be my suggestion that the employees cease working unauthorized overtime. ;)

Your state DOL can advise you further.