Opinion ID: 2205569
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Administrative Exemption.

Text: The district court concluded the sergeants assigned to the governor's detail, sergeants serving as planning and training officers, sergeants serving as air wing administration officers, sergeants serving as public information officers, computerization and technology sergeants, sergeants serving as technical accident investigation coordinators, and the internal affairs officer are exempt from the overtime provisions of the FLSA due to the act's administrative exemption. To be exempt under the short test, the employer must show the employee's primary duty consists of the performance of [office or non-manual work directly related to management policies or general business operations of his employer], which includes work requiring the exercise of discretion and independent judgment. Auer, 65 F.3d at 719-20 (citing 29 C.F.R. § 541.2(e)(2)); accord Shockley v. City of Newport News, 997 F.2d 18, 28 (4th Cir.1993). Administrative duties include advising the management, planning, negotiation, representing the company, purchasing, promoting sales, and business research and control. Auer, 65 F.3d at 720 (citing 29 C.F.R. § 541.205(b)). An employee's primary duty is that which is of principal importance to the employer, rather than collateral tasks which may take up more than fifty percent of his or her time. Spinden v. GS Roofing Prods. Co., 94 F.3d 421, 427 (8th Cir.1996) (quoting Reich v. Wyoming, 993 F.2d 739, 742 (10th Cir.1993)). The regulations define the phrase `the exercise of discretion and independent judgment' to mean that the person `has the authority or power to make an independent choice, free from immediate direction or supervision and with respect to matters of significance.' See Robinson-Smith v. Gov't Employees Ins. Co., 323 F.Supp.2d 12, 20 (D.D.C.2004) (quoting 29 C.F.R. § 541.207(a)). The exercise of discretion and independent judgment `involves the comparison and the evaluation of possible courses of conduct and acting or making a decision after the various possibilities have been considered.' Id. (quoting 29 C.F.R. § 541.207(a)). The regulations caution that an employee is not exercising discretion and independent judgment when that employee merely applies his knowledge in following prescribed procedures or determining which procedure to follow even if there is some leeway in reaching a conclusion. Id. (citing 29 C.F.R. § 541.207(c)(1)). The district court examined each classification of sergeants to determine if the State proved certain sergeants were administratively exempt. We now examine each category to determine if substantial evidence supports the district court's findings.
There are four sergeants assigned to the governor's detail. The district court found the primary duty of these sergeants is maintaining security for the governor, lieutenant governor, and the first lady. These sergeants make travel arrangements, plan security for trips and at events, coordinate with other agencies to ensure security for the governor, and provide transportation. The district court found the sergeants use their sole discretion and independent judgment on how to implement security for a trip and concluded these sergeants are exempt from the overtime provisions due to the administrative exemption. These sergeants argue they are merely using their technical knowledge in providing security and are not exempt. Our review of the record reveals these sergeants provide protection, which requires them to assess the location and the security risks, determine the most effective plan for protection, and coordinate security with local law enforcement personnel. These duties include more than applying their knowledge in following prescribed procedures. These duties require these sergeants to exercise a great deal of discretion and independent judgment to complete their tasks successfully. At any given moment, these sergeants may be required to make a decision to protect the life or safety of the governor, lieutenant governor, and the first lady. The decisions made by these sergeants in providing security are their primary duty requiring the exercise of discretion and independent judgment.
The district court concluded the sergeant in this job position is required to (1) review, research and organize state patrol policies; (2) coordinate continuing training for all state patrol officers; (3) set the training agendas; and (4) research new technologies and policies the state patrol may use to improve law enforcement activities. The record confirms the sergeant in this position is required to exercise discretion and independent judgment to perform his or her duties. This sergeant must review a myriad of resources and choose the applicable policies, training, and technologies the state patrol needs to improve law enforcement activities. This sergeant is not merely applying his or her knowledge in following prescribed procedures or determining which procedure to follow. Substantial evidence supports this sergeant is exempt as an administrator.
The state patrol air wing owns nine aircraft that it uses for law enforcement purposes. The district court found and substantial evidence supports these sergeants supervise anything that has to do with pilots or aircrafts. The specific duties they perform are (1) ensuring the pilots maintain proper licensing, training, and compliance with other FAA requirements; (2) determining a pilot's fitness for flying; (3) inspecting aircrafts to determine their flight worthiness; (4) approving expenses needed to maintain the aircraft; and (5) exercising administrative and operational supervision over the trooper pilots and other personnel assigned to aircraft operations. These duties require these sergeants to advise management, plan, purchase, and conduct research. In exercising these duties, by necessity, these sergeants must use their discretion and independent judgment. The district court was correct in determining these sergeants are administratively exempt.
The district court found these sergeants' duties include maintaining media relations for the state patrol's divisions, coordinating activities necessary in order to provide the media with accurate information, scheduling training, providing guidance to other personnel on how to respond to the media, and maintaining the state patrol's website. These sergeants do not challenge these factual findings, but argue they are not exempt because they are not using discretion and independent judgment in performing these tasks. The record supports that to perform this job, these sergeants must be able to think on their feet and exercise independent judgment in responding to the media on matters of interest to the state patrol. Substantial evidence supports the conclusion these sergeants compare, consider, and evaluate different courses of conduct before acting or making a decision in performing these tasks. This evidence qualifies these sergeants as being administratively exempt.
The district court found this sergeant installs computers and acts as a troubleshooter throughout the state for the patrol's computer system. This sergeant is responsible for maintaining the overall efficiency of the patrol's computer system. This sergeant is neither a programmer nor a system analyst. The sergeant does not dispute this finding, but argues only programmers and system analysts are exempt under the FLSA. See 29 U.S.C. § 213(a)(17); 29 C.F.R. § 541.303 (1993). Although an employee may be exempt as a programmer or system analyst under § 213(a)(17), such a finding does not preclude an employee who works with a company's computer system from being exempt under § 213(a)(1)'s administrative exemption. Section 213(a) separates each listed exemption by the word or. See 29 U.S.C. § 213(a). Thus, the exemptions are not mutually exclusive. The record confirms the performance plan applicable to this sergeant requires the sergeant to (1) install, configure, and test software programs, (2) setup, configure, and maintain all division computer systems as needed; (3) monitor systems; (4) initiate any corrective measures needed to keep the facilities running efficiently; and (5) maintain software and application packages. These duties constitute non-manual work directly related to the general business operations of the patrol. See 29 C.F.R. § 541.206 (providing that the employee must have as his primary duty non-manual work directly related to management policies or general business operations of his employer to be considered exempt under the administrative exemption). In performing these tasks, the sergeant does not merely follow manuals, but exercises discretion and independent judgment to complete each task. Substantial evidence supports the district court's findings as to this sergeant.
The district court found the sergeants serving as technical accident investigation coordinators are administratively exempt. In doing so, the district court found a technical accident investigator coordinator (1) regularly researches and trains to stay current with new developments in the field; (2) maintains and monitors accident reports and records; (3) conducts meetings relating to technical investigations; (4) trains troopers; (5) conducts reviews of all investigations; (6) coordinates the activity of the field coordinators; and (7) ensures investigation techniques are correct and uniform in application. Our review of the record verifies substantial evidence in the record supports the district court's determination, because these findings are consistent with the responsibilities and standards under the state patrol's performance plan applicable to sergeants serving as technical accident investigation coordinators. This position requires the sergeant to apply specialized knowledge, discretion, and independent judgment to a technical accident investigation. A sergeant in this position is responsible for management, planning, and representing the patrol's general business operation regarding technical accident investigations. The record is more than sufficient to establish these sergeants are administratively exempt.
The internal affairs bureau is a two-officer unit, comprised of a lieutenant and a sergeant. The bureau's purpose is to conduct investigations of alleged violations of Department rules to ensure officers receive fair hearings and to see complaints are resolved properly and quickly. This sergeant has sole control and direction of all bureau investigations. The district court ruled this position was exempt based on the administrative exemption. The sergeant in this position argues this position serves only an investigative function and does not require the use of discretion or independent judgment. The sergeant simply gathers facts but does not make recommendations. We disagree with the sergeant's arguments because the record reveals this sergeant has sole control and direction of all bureau investigations assigned to the sergeant. This sergeant includes in his or her final reports to the Commissioner whether the person under investigation complied with Department policies and recommends appropriate discipline based on similar discipline given other persons for the same or similar violations. Although this sergeant performs the actual investigation, this sergeant also analyzes the data collected in the investigation and makes recommendations that ensure the patrol operates in accordance with its stated goals and objectives. Auer, 65 F.3d at 721. For these reasons, substantial evidence supports the district court's conclusion that this position is administratively exempt.