Nonprofit overtime Iowa

[p2consulting]

Please give me some input as to whether my employer (a not-for-profit museum) is breaking any laws by underpaying a nonexempt co-worker for her work beyond 40 hours per week. She puts in a full 40-hour week as a receptionist, and often adds in at least 10 hours on the weekend for events coverage. For the ten+ hours, she is not being paid the time - and - a - half. She does receive a lesser rate.

Is there a law being broken?

Since she supervises volunteers, could she become exempt?

[Pattymd]

Not unless she's ALSO a volunteer, which it doesn't appear she is. Non-profits are not automatically exempt from the overtime provisions of the FLSA. The "non-profit" characterization is relevant for taxes only.

Is this a private employer or a government entity/quasi-governmental agency?

[ElleMD]

So your receptionist supervises the volunteers? Is she responsible for the overall volunteer program? Or does she just give general directions since she is presumably the first person they encounter?

[p2consulting]

Question #1 reply: The organization is a private nonprofit museum governed by a voluntary board of community members.

Question #2 Reply: The receptionist is supervised by the Assoc. Director, who technically oversee the docent program. However, the receptionist really does all the coordination, but not the training of docents.