In Louisiana, if an employer wants to change your status from hourly to salaried, what is a fair offer?

Question

FYI: In the last two years I have made approx. 10,000.00 in OT each year the amount has doubled and I do not see it easing up anytime soon. Their thinking is do more with less (yeah). So now they are wanting to change my status from hourly to salaried without a rate increase. I thought this was unfair, so I have done some research and they cannot force the change since I was not hired on that way. Also there is no difference in hourly vs. salary employees where I work as far as benefits go. I do have a slight advantage if I am pressured to negotiate, there is no one that can just step into my shoes immediately (Senior Graphic Designer, 16 years for inhouse agency, I know the biz well). Don't get me wrong I know no one is irreplaceable.I would like to know what other people think is a fair increase to ask for. If I am expected to change over and still work those hours. Help Please! PS, they want to switch the entire department of 21 over. Not just me. Its all about the bottom line

Answer 1

I would take your 2006 earnings for the whole year and tell them that is what you want your salary to be if are going to be expected to work the same hours.
Your company just thinks that it can save money by taking your current hourly and making that your salary. If that is what they insist on doing, go back to 40 hour weeks and let them see how much is actually not being done.

Answer 2

Well I guess maybe just look at your annual gross income over the past 2 or 3 years and go from there. I love the way they try to get free overtime by pushing you into salary. Go high and if they hesitate you can always back off a bit, but if you low ball yourself it's next to impossible to renegotiate higher.

Answer 3

since you weren't hired as salary then they would have to negotiate a new contract with.
If they won't budge on your pay to include possible over time
then make it clear while negotiating (and have it written down) what your work hours are for example m-f 8-5 w/ 1 hr lunch that would give you the 40 hrs for benefits and the option to work late as YOU see fit

Answer 4

if you have ALL of your pay stubs showing all the hours you worked including OT Holiday and regular hours add them all up and diivide by how you are paid.

IE $30,000 earned last year divided by 24 (paid 2x per month)would be $1,250 each paycheck. I inclused the example because I did not know if I explaind my answer well. good luck.