reduced hours to prevent overtime

[frankieholland]

I am an employee that qualifies for overtime pay. I work a regular 5 day, 40 hour week. I am a tv news photographer and this business is NOT your usual 9-5 job. Management is cutting down on overtime. For awhile they told us not to get any overtime and if we were about to get overtime we had to get managerial approval. If we managed to get more that 8 hours in one shift then they would try to reduce our hours later in the week. Sometimes we would be sent home early in case we would have to work a longer day later in the week. An example is I worked a 13 hour day on Tuesday, I was told the overtime was approved. The next day I am told to come into work late and then to leave early to make up for the extra accrued hours. Is this legal? I work a regular set shift but sometimes my times change due to news events happening early or later. Can they just radomly tell me to come in at different times so I don't acrue OT? I am in the state of Fl. Thanks, Frank

[LConnell]

Yes, it is legal. The practice that they are following is the same as many employers in the country right now.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[frankieholland]

Thankyou for your reply. I was going to question management about their overtime practice and question the legality of it. I guess since what they are doing is legal then I will just appeal in the name of fairness. Thanks, Frank

[LConnell]

Great approach. I have found that talking with my employer in such a way is often the best way to get changes made. Let me know how it works out.