Manufacturing Exemption Status

Johana 1

We are a manufacturing company and our R&D ( Proto-type) employee is a salary employee. This person is the one that build the first model furniture before going to production. This employee builds from drawings from our engineering department or from ideas. I am questioning his exempt status. He doesn't spend most of his time on exempt level duties. His job can be somewhat creative. However we have a style that he msut follows. I am thinking thsi employee should be an hourly or at best a salary non-exempt employee. your thoughts!
thanks

Shadowfax

Sounds to me like a craftsperson. Craftspersons are non-exempt.

ljohnson

Not sure what parallels I can draw for you, but we have engineers (with a degree) that are salaried, and they work with what we call Product Development Technicians (no degree, typically production people who have shown initiative or a new person that shows promise or can be used in multiple areas) which are hourly. PDs will make a "first article" from start to finish, so it sounds similar.

E Wart

We are a manufacturing company as well. If your person is similar to ours, he doesn't get involved in the production/design of the blueprints/models (except making suggestions for corrections now and then.) His job is to take the plans and "build" the equpment/furniture or whatever. Our person is definietely a non-exempt craftsman.
E Wart