Alexandria Fire Chiefs Exempt From Overtime Pay in FLSA Appeal

Battalion chiefs in the Alexandria Fire Department are exempt from overtime pay requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday, upholding summary judgment in favor of the Virginia city.

The chiefs were paid on a salary basis, so they qualified for the FSLA’s “highly compensated employee” exemption, Judge Albert Diaz said for the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, affirming a district court’s ruling.

“The city paid the chiefs a predetermined amount (consisting of regular time and paid leave) equivalent to either 80 administrative hours or 106 operational hours,” Diaz said. “And because ...