How are live-in housekeepers compensated?
A. Domestic employees residing in the household where they are employed are exempt from overtime. They must, however, be paid minimum wage for all hours worked. When federal and state minimum wage rates are different, the employer must pay the higher rate. In determining the number of hours worked by a live-in worker, the employee and employer may agree to exclude sleeping time, meal time, and other periods of complete freedom from all duties when the employee may either leave the premises or stay on the premises for purely personal pursuits. Any reasonable agreement of the parties which takes into consideration all of the pertinent facts will be accepted in determining the number of hours worked.
