Veterinarians Are Exempt Professionals Under the FLSA

Under the FLSA, certain professionals are exempt from overtime if paid on a salary basis and doctors and lawyers are exempt even if they are not paid on a salary basis.? ?The plaintiffs in this case, licensed veterinarians, often worked shifts of 12 or more hours at a time.? ?They were paid by multiplying the numbers of shifts worked by a set rate, so they were not paid on a salary basis. Generally, this would make an employee non- exempt. ?Although exemptions from overtime are narrowly construed, the district court and the appellate court had little trouble concluding that veterinarians?? are?? exempt?? doctors?? under?? the FLSA.???? Clark ?v. ?United ?Emergency ?Animal Clinic, No. 03-15267 (Rymer, Canby, Hawkins; 12/07/04).