Don’t assume because your title includes “engineer” — or even if you have a degree in engineering – that you are not entitled to overtime for all of those long hours you work. Engineering is a vast field and encompasses many positions, some of which are overtime-eligible.
If you are a “level one” or “entry level” engineer, your job may not require you to use the type of specialized engineering skills which would exempt you from overtime. For example, if your job entails primarily assisting a lead engineer on a project, or fielding questions from in-house or from clients or customers, or if you are usually doing CAD, then you may be entitled to overtime regardless of your engineering title.
Similarly, if you have a degree in engineering but your job duties do not require you to use the advanced knowledge associated with that degree, then you also may be entitled to overtime. By way of illustration, if you are a Professional Engineer but your job does not require you to use that skill set or your PE license, then you may be overtime eligible.
And, if you are an engineer who happens to be classified as non-exempt (eligible for overtime), then you are entitled to overtime for all of your hours worked – including those hours worked “off-the-clock” (i.e., unreported), whether at the office, in the field, or at home.
As you can see, there are a variety of scenarios where engineers may be entitled to overtime. If you are uncertain of your status, give us a call so we can evaluate your situation based upon your duties and job requirements.