Live data from Hacker News

Companies save billions of dollars by giving employees fake “manager” titles

cbsnews.com

1–10 of 202 posts

Re: Companies save billions of dollars by giving employees fake “manager” titles

#5
The article isn't mainly about manager titles. The manager titles are just part of the way companies justify paying people a fixed salary (with no paid overtime) vs. paying people for the hours they work.

  They found that the incidence of fake-sounding manager titles spiked at the legal threshold of $455 a week — exactly the cutoff at which a company would be allowed to put workers on salary and sidestep OT payment laws.

Re: Companies save billions of dollars by giving employees fake “manager” titles

#8

Unlimited time off is another gem they use.

Unlimited time off would be a better idea if the company could define a reasonable minimum amount of time you must take off during the year. Then there is no guilt or coercion involved.

Re: Companies save billions of dollars by giving employees fake “manager” titles

#9
post #7

Banks have been doing this for decades. If you're not a VP within 3 months some may wonder if something is wrong with you.

My coworkers and I used to joke that at banks, even cleaning staff get VP titles.

Banks hand out VP titles like candy so that the customers think they're hot stuff and being treated well.

Re: Companies save billions of dollars by giving employees fake “manager” titles

#10
I worked for a restaurant that did this to me. To make sure I hit the "minimum hours" (when you start talking about hours vs tasks or responsibilities you probably aren't getting into a legitimate salary arrangement) they would have me clock in and out, and I'd get pay stubs with 40 hours (less if I worked less) and the overtime hours paid at $0.

They withheld my last paycheck when I quit and stopped responding to my calls so I had to file with the PA labor board, I sent in those paystubs and answered questions about the role and what I did there. Couple weeks later they send me a check for 20 grand out of the blue, the business had to pay back overtime becuase I was misclassifed. I was just looking for the $300 or so they owed me, was really surprised with the outcome.

Post reply on HN