Question about Salary and Overtime

[gca]

I was fired from this job a few months back for no real reason, but I'm still bothered about the way I was paid. I've been searching for information on my former situation and haven't found anything, so I hope this forum can enlighten me.

I took a temporary job at a temp agency back in June. I was doing data entry and being paid $10/hour. They were looking to hire a full-time receptionist from among the temporary workers there - I was eventually offered the job.

I was told that I would be "salaried by the hour", in which I was a salaried employee who was paid $9/hour. I would not be paid overtime and would have to wait three months for benefits. I took the job, then continued doing the data entry work for another month before they finally actually put me up front as receptionist. One week after I started as receptionist (and doing a good job) I was fired.

[edit] I did end up working many hours overtime, often missing my ride home, and even having to reschedule my wedding appointments so I could work late.

My question is this: can someone be "salaried by the hour"? Or is this something the company made up to rip off their employees? I discovered shortly before leaving the company that they had poor morals and would get away with anything and everything they could. I would like to know so as to avoid the situation in the future.

Thanks!

[cbg]

A non-exempt employee, which both a receptionist and a data entry operator would qualify as, must be paid overtime at the rate of time and a half for every hour over 40 in a week.

Depending on how long ago this happened, you may still be able to file a claim for unpaid overtime with your state DOL.