Havey v. Homebound Mortgage, Inc. ( 2008 )


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  • 06-0978-cv
    Havey v. Homebound Mortgage, Inc.
    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
    August Term 2006
    (Argued: April 11, 2007                                                     Decided: October 22, 2008)
    Docket No. 06-0978-cv
    LINDA HAVEY ,
    Plaintiff-Appellant,
    v.
    HOMEBOUND MORTGAGE , INC ., GARY W. TUORILA, JUDITH TUORILA,
    KATHY MAC SWEEN AND SHANE SEMPREBON ,
    Defendants-Appellees.
    Before: WINTER, LEVAL, and CABRANES, Circuit Judges.
    Plaintiff appeals from a grant of summary judgment by the United States District Court for the
    District of Vermont (Jerome J. Niedermeier, Magistrate Judge) in favor of the defendants on her claims
    for violations of the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, 
    29 U.S.C. § 201
     et seq.
    (“FLSA”). We hold that (1) prospective adjustments to an employee’s salary based on the quality of
    work which do not reduce the “predetermined amount” of salary do not violate the “salary-basis test”
    of the FLSA so long as the salary scheme was not designed to circumvent the requirements of the
    FLSA; and (2) prospective adjustments to an employee’s salary based on projected quantity of work
    performed do not necessarily violate that test.
    Affirmed.
    JOHN L. FRANCO , JR ., Burlington, VT, for Plaintiff-Appellant.
    GARY L. FRANKLIN , Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer PC,
    (Christina A. Jensen, Lisman, Webster, Kirkpatrick &
    1
    Leeckerling, on the brief) Burlington, VT, for Defendants-
    Appellees.
    PIERRE N. LEVAL and JOSÉ A. CABRANES, Circuit Judges:
    Plaintiff-appellant Linda Havey (“Havey”), who was formerly employed as a mortgage
    underwriter by defendant-appellee Homebound Mortgage (“Homebound”), brought this action
    claiming that Homebound and its officers failed to pay her overtime compensation as required by the
    Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA” or “the Act”), 
    29 U.S.C. § 201
     et seq. Defendants responded that
    Havey was employed in “a bona fide . . . administrative . . . capacity” and was therefore exempt from
    the overtime provisions of the FLSA. 
    29 U.S.C. § 213
    (a)(1). The United States District Court for the
    District of Vermont (Jerome J. Niedermeier, Magistrate Judge)1 agreed with defendants and granted their
    motion for summary judgment. The sole issue raised on appeal is whether, as a matter of law, the
    system of compensation applicable to Havey met the test to qualify her as one employed in a “bona
    fide administrative capacity.” We affirm the grant of summary judgment, concluding that plaintiff was
    employed in a “bona fide administrate capacity” and accordingly excluded from the overtime
    compensation requirements of the FLSA.
    BACKGROUND
    Havey was formerly employed by Homebound, a mortgage brokerage and loan underwriting
    company incorporated and doing business in Vermont,2 where she worked as a mortgage underwriter
    from April 2002 until she was terminated in November 2003. During her tenure, underwriters at
    Homebound received a base salary of $48,000 and were also eligible for additional “tiered
    compensation,” which allowed them to receive more pay by agreeing to process more loans in a given
    1
    Upon consent of the parties, a magistrate judge “may conduct any or all proceedings in a jury or nonjury civil
    matter and order the entry of judgment in the case.” 
    28 U.S.C. § 636
    (c)(1).
    2
    Homebound ceased operations in July 2004, shortly after Havey filed this action. See Havey v. Homebound
    Mortgage, Inc., No. 2:03-cv-313, 
    2005 WL 1719061
    , at *1 (D. Vt. July 21, 2005).
    2
    quarter, subject to reduction of this additional amount depending on the quality of the work
    performed. Havey was not paid overtime for working more than 40 hours per week. Havey brought
    this action claiming that she was entitled to overtime compensation under the FLSA and the parallel
    state statute, the Vermont Fair Employment Practice Act, 21 V.S.A. § 383,3 and that defendants,
    Homebound and its officers, failed to pay her.
    FLSA and Implementing Regulations
    The FLSA was enacted to eliminate “labor conditions detrimental to the maintenance of the
    minimum standard of living necessary for health, efficiency, and general well-being of workers,” 
    29 U.S.C. § 202
    (a), and to “guarantee[ ] compensation for all work or employment engaged in by
    employees covered by the Act.” Tennessee Coal, Iron & R.R. Co. v. Muscoda Local No. 123, 
    321 U.S. 590
    ,
    602 (1944). To that end, the Act imposes a number of wage and hour requirements, including the
    overtime provision at issue here. Pursuant to the FLSA, an employee must be compensated at a rate of
    “not less than one and one-half times the regular rate at which he is employed” for any hours worked
    in excess of 40 hours per week. 
    29 U.S.C. § 207
    (a)(1). The overtime compensation requirement,
    however, does not apply to “any employee employed in a bona fide executive, administrative, or
    professional capacity.” 
    Id.
     § 213(a)(1).
    Rather than define the exemptions in the statute, Congress granted the Secretary of Labor
    broad authority to “define[ ] and delimit[ ]” these terms “from time to time by regulations.” 29 U.S.C.
    213(a)(1). See also Auer v. Robbins, 
    519 U.S. 452
    , 456 (1997) (describing the “broad authority” of the
    Secretary under the Act). Regulations issued pursuant to this authority define what it means to be
    3
    Another former employee, JoAnne Anderson, was initially a co-plaintiff in this action, but has abandoned her
    claims and is not participating in this appeal.
    The parties agree Vermont Fair Employment Practice Act is identical to the FLSA in all respects relevant to the
    instant dispute— that is, if Havey is exempt under the FLSA, she will be exempt under the Vermont statute. We express
    no view whether the standards of the Vermont statute are in fact identical to those of the federal statute. Because the
    parties agree that our determination based on the federal statute will govern the case under Vermont law, we, like the
    Magistrate Judge, will not address the state law question . See Havey, 
    2005 WL 1719061
    , at *2 n.1.
    3
    “employed in a bona fide . . . administrative . . . capacity” with reference to two tests for employees like
    Havey. 
    29 C.F.R. § 541.2
     (2002).4 The first, known as the “duties test,” considers an employee’s
    workplace responsibilities. Under the short version of this test,5 “an employee who is compensated on
    a salary . . . basis at a rate of not less than $250 per week” and “[w]hose primary duty consists of . . .
    [t]he performance of office . . . work directly related to management policies or general business
    operations of his employer [and] requiring the exercise of discretion and independent judgment [is]
    deemed to meet all the requirements” of this test. 
    Id.
     § 541.2(a)-(e)(2). The second, known as the
    “salary-basis test,” considers an employee to be a bona fide administrative employee only if he is
    “compensated on a salary or fee basis,” as opposed to compensation on an hourly basis. Id. §
    541.2(e)(2). According to the regulations:
    An employee will be considered to be paid “on a salary basis” . . . if under his
    employment agreement he regularly receives each pay period on a weekly, or
    less frequent basis, a predetermined amount constituting all or part of his
    compensation, which amount is not subject to reduction because of variations in
    the quality or quantity of the work performed.
    Id. § 541.118(a) (emphasis added); see also Auer, 
    519 U.S. at 457
     (observing that the “salary-basis test”
    has existed largely in the same form since 1954). With certain exceptions, “the employee must
    receive his full salary for any week in which he performs any work without regard to the number of
    days or hours worked.” 
    29 C.F.R. § 541.118
    (a). In a sub-section entitled “minimum guarantee plus
    extras,” the regulations allow that a “salary may consist of a predetermined amount constituting all
    or part of the employee’s compensation. In other words, additional compensation besides the salary
    is not inconsistent with the salary basis of payment.” 
    Id.
     § 541.118(b). For example, “a branch
    4
    The parties agree that later amendments to the regulations, effective 2004, do not apply in this case. All
    citations herein are to the 2002 regulations relied upon by the parties and the District Court.
    5
    Under the regulations that were effective during the relevant period, there were two tests for determining
    whether a position qualifies for the administrative exemption: a short test and a long test. Compare 
    29 C.F.R. § 541.2
    (e)(2)
    (2002) (“Provided, [t]hat an employee who is compensated on a salary . . . basis at a rate of not less than $250 per week
    [and satisfies certain duties] . . . shall be deemed to meet all the requirements of this section.”) with 29 C.F.R. 541.2(a)-
    (e)(2); see also Donavan v. Burger King Corp., 
    675 F.2d 516
    , 518 (2d Cir. 1982) (explaining the short and long tests).
    4
    manager” who receives a salary plus a percentage of the branch sales or profits meets the salary test.
    
    Id.
     Discretionary bonuses do not affect the exempt status if they do not alter an employee’s pre-
    determined compensation. See 
    29 U.S.C. § 207
    (e)(3); 
    29 C.F.R. § 778.211
    . However, “[t]he test of
    payment on a salary basis will not be met . . . if the salary is divided into two parts for the purpose of
    circumventing the requirement of payment ‘on a salary basis’.” 
    Id.
     § 541.118(b).
    Homebound’s Compensation System
    Unless otherwise stated, the following facts are not disputed by the parties. Under
    Homebound’s compensation system in effect at all times relevant to this dispute, the “base level”
    salary of an underwriter like Havey corresponded to the number of loans he or she reviewed each
    month in the previous quarter. There were four possible “base levels.” The lowest “base level”
    salary was $48,000; an underwriter was guaranteed this amount regardless of the quantity of loans
    reviewed per month or the quality of work. An underwriter’s “base level” could increase for the
    following quarter if the underwriter reviewed 73 or more loans each month for a quarter. The
    highest “base level” was $64,000 for underwriters who had reviewed 105 or more loans each month
    in the previous quarter and were expecting to continue at this rate.
    An underwriter’s salary was reviewed on a quarterly basis by Homebound management and
    adjusted to a new “base level” salary applicable to the following quarter as agreed by Homebound
    and the underwriter. After the quarterly review, the underwriter was required to sign a statement
    agreeing “to maintain the . . . goal level [in terms of numbers of loans reviewed] that coincide[d]”
    with the assigned salary. Underwriters were eligible for additional bonuses for exceeding their
    productivity targets in addition to the salary adjustments, which were paid every four to five weeks.
    If the underwriter did not meet the current goal level for a period of two months in one quarter, his
    or her salary would “be reduced to the applicable level [he or she] is currently underwriting too
    [sic].” Depending on the number of defects found in an underwriter’s work, the underwriter’s base
    level could “be reduced to [the] next level down until [the] defects are under control.” The parties
    5
    dispute whether these adjustments occurred only at the beginning of the quarter when a base level
    was agreed upon or whether they also occurred mid-quarter. It is undisputed that in no
    circumstance would the salary of an underwriter fall below the predetermined amount of $48,000.
    Procedural History
    Havey brought this action in the District Court, claiming that defendants, Homebound and
    its officers, failed to pay her overtime compensation as required by the FLSA and the Vermont Fair
    Employment Practice Act, 21 V.S.A. § 384(b). In response, defendants contended that Havey was
    employed in “a bona fide administrative capacity” and was therefore exempt from the overtime
    provisions of the FLSA under 
    29 U.S.C. § 213
    (a)(1).
    In granting summary judgment to defendants, the Magistrate Judge agreed that Havey was
    an administrative employee and was therefore exempt from the overtime provisions of the FLSA.
    See Havey v. Homebound Mortgage, Inc., No. 2:03-cv-313, 
    2005 WL 1719061
     (D. Vt. July 21, 2005). The
    Magistrate Judge evaluated Havey’s position under both the “salary-basis test” and the “duties test.”
    He concluded that the system of compensation applicable to Havey during the relevant time period
    did not run afoul of the “salary-basis test” because (1) all underwriters were guaranteed a salary rate
    of $48,000 regardless of their efficiency and (2) any involuntary adjustments based on the number of
    loans processed applied only prospectively. 
    Id. at *4-5
    . With respect to reductions due to quality
    (i.e., loan defects), the Magistrate Judge found there was no evidence that any quality control
    reductions were ever made; there was no system in place for tracking deductions; and even if such a
    system existed, these reductions were also prospective in nature and could never bring an
    underwriter’s salary below $48,000 per year. 
    Id. at *5
    . The Magistrate Judge ruled that the
    underwriters also satisfied the “duties test” because their primary duties were nonmanual tasks
    related to Homebound’s business and involved the exercise of discretion or independent judgment.
    
    Id. at *5-7
    .
    This appeal followed. Before our Court, Havey argues that Homebound’s compensation
    6
    system for underwriters fails to qualify her as “employed in a bona fide . . . administrative . . .
    capacity” for two reasons. 
    29 U.S.C. § 213
    (a)(1). First, Havey contends that the compensation
    system permits deductions within a pay period. She points to statements on the job description
    sheet issued by Homebound that if more than five in 100 loans made by the underwriter contain
    defects, the underwriter’s base level “will be reduced to [the] next level down until [the] defects are
    under control” and indicated that her manager informed her that such reductions would occur
    immediately. She further contends that Homebound’s compensation policy permitted downward
    penalty adjustments within the pay period for underperforming underwriters not keeping pace with
    their expected loan volume. Second, Havey argues that the trial court misapplied the “minimum
    guarantee plus extras” provision of 
    29 C.F.R. § 541.118
    (b). She contends that Homebound’s two-
    part salary scheme is of the type not permitted by the regulation.
    DISCUSSION
    We review a district court’s grant of summary judgment de novo. See, e.g., Singh v. City of New
    York, 
    524 F.3d 361
    , 366 (2d Cir. 2008). In doing so, we view the facts in the light most favorable to
    the non-moving party, which in this case is Havey, and resolve all factual ambiguities in her favor.
    See 
    id.
     To avoid summary judgment on a factual issue, however, “[t]he mere existence of a scintilla
    of evidence in support of the plaintiff’s position will be insufficient; there must be evidence on
    which the jury could reasonably find for the plaintiff.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 
    477 U.S. 242
    ,
    252 (1986).
    The sole issue raised on appeal is whether, as a matter of law, the system of compensation
    applicable to Havey from December 1, 2002 until her termination in November 20036 qualified her
    as being employed in a “bona fide administrative capacity.” We conclude that the tiered
    compensation system at issue satisfies the pertinent tests and plaintiff was not entitled to overtime
    6
    Havey initially sought compensation for work performed before December 1, 2002 but has limited her appeal
    to the period of employment after that date.
    7
    compensation.
    “[B]ecause the FLSA is a remedial act, its exemptions . . . are to be narrowly construed,” and
    the burden rests on the employer to prove that a particular employee is exempt from the Act’s
    requirements. Martin v. Malcolm Pirnie, Inc., 
    949 F.2d 611
    , 614 (2d Cir. 1991). Accordingly,
    Homebound must establish that underwriters were paid on a salary basis. We have stated that
    “[g]enerally, an employer that maintains the discretion to reduce an employee’s compensation as a
    result of the employee’s hours or the quality of the employee’s work[ ] may not consider the
    employee to be paid on a salary basis.” 
    Id. at 615
    . However, “exempt status will be denied only if
    there is either . . . an actual practice of making . . . deductions,” Ahern v. County of Nassau, 
    118 F.3d 118
    , 121 (2d Cir. 1997) (alteration in original) (internal quotation marks omitted), or, failing that, a
    “clear and particularized policy—one which effectively communicates that deductions will be made
    in specified circumstances.” Auer, 
    519 U.S. at 461
     (internal quotation marks omitted).
    Given the broad scope of the FLSA and its implementing regulations, which reach all
    employees involved in interstate commerce, see 
    29 U.S.C. §§ 202
    (a)-(b), 207(a)(1), the regulations
    provide only general guidance to accommodate the varying needs of employers and employees in a
    diverse and varied national economy. Cf. Acs v. Detroit Edison Co., 
    444 F.3d 763
    , 770 (6th Cir. 2006)
    (“[Plaintiffs have not] shown that the Fair Labor Standards Act generally circumscribes an
    employer’s authority to choose the mechanics of a compensation system that suits its business
    needs.”). The regulations specify that a salaried employee must be paid a fixed and predetermined
    amount, see 
    29 C.F.R. § 541.118
    (b) (“minimum guarantee plus extras” regulation), but do not
    prescribe when or how frequently this fixed element of compensation may be determined. Indeed,
    the agency’s use of the word “predetermined” to describe the salary requirement indicates only that
    this element of an employee’s compensation must be both fixed and determined prior to the period
    in which it would apply. The regulations also prohibit “deductions . . . made for time when work is
    not available” “if the employee is ready, willing, and able to work.” 
    Id.
     § 541.118(a)(1). Finally, the
    8
    regulations proscribe compensation systems designed to “circumvent[ ]” the “salary-basis test.” Id. §
    541.118(b).
    A.       Pay adjustments within a pay period
    Havey disputes Homebound’s assertion that pay levels were adjusted only at the end of each
    quarter on a prospective basis. According to Havey, Homebound reduced pay in the middle of the
    quarter for underwriters whose work had an excessive number of errors or who failed to meet their
    productivity targets. As we stated above, once the fixed minimum portion of an employee’s
    compensation has been determined, any reduction below that set amount would, in most
    circumstances, violate the “salary-basis test.” See 
    29 C.F.R. § 541.118
    (a), see page 4 ante (text of
    provision); see also Martin, 
    949 F.2d at 615
     (“[I]t is clear that, under the strict definition contained in §
    541.118(a) these employees [whose pay was docked for part-day absences] may not be considered
    salaried.”). Because Homeland determined salary levels on a quarterly basis, an actual practice or a
    clear and particularized policy that permitted intra-quarterly reductions below the predetermined
    amount on the basis of quantity or quality of work performed would render plaintiff a non-salaried
    employee.
    Havey has failed to present any evidence of actual intra-quarterly deductions. Before the
    Magistrate Judge, she presented evidence of pay adjustments for three unnamed underwriters in
    January 2004 and for her former co-plaintiff in July 2003. However, each of these reductions was a
    prospective quarterly pay adjustment.7
    Lacking examples of actual mid-quarter reductions, Havey was required to show that
    7
    To support her contention, Havey submitted certain of Homebound’s payroll and financial records, but the
    records concerning two of the unnamed employees indicate that the reductions occurred at the first pay period after the
    end of quarter, consistent with the conclusion that these reductions were prospective. The records also show that the
    third employee experienced a similar reduction reflected in the first pay period after the end of the quarter. The same
    employee then saw an intra-quarter increase associated with a bonus received after the start of the quarter. Havey’s
    former co-plaintiff testified that the July 2003 salary reduction was based on her desire to have a reduced schedule in the
    summer months. The reduction occurred as part of an agreement at the end of a quarter concerning her prospective
    salary for the next quarter. Accordingly, there is no evidence of an intra-quarterly pay reduction.
    9
    Homebound had a “clear and particularized policy” of such reductions. Auer, 
    519 U.S. at 461
    .
    Havey has argued that such a policy exists with respect to reductions in pay due to quality errors.
    The job description sheet indicated that an underwriters’ pay could be reduced “to the next level
    down” if there was evidence of quality defects exceeding five per 100 folders, but did not discuss
    when this reduction will occur. Havey contends that this reduction could occur mid-quarter, while
    Homebound argues that this is impossible because a mechanism was never developed to implement
    this policy. The Magistrate Judge did not decide this disputed fact, because as he rightly noted,
    “Even assuming the policy was in place, however, any reductions were prospective, and were to
    efficiency pay only, never to the base salary of $48,000 per year.” Havey, 
    2005 WL 1719061
    , at *5.
    No matter how many quality errors were committed, Havey has failed to show that under
    Homebound’s policy, her pay could be reduced below her predetermined guaranteed salary of
    $48,000. Given the nature of her duties, the fact that her overall compensation for that quarter
    could be decreased due to quality errors does not render Havey a non-salaried employee if, under
    the employer’s policy, the adjustments do not affect a “predetermined amount” portion of salary
    exceeding the regulatory threshold rate and only impacts the size of the increase above this amount.
    See 
    29 C.F.R. § 541.118
    (a) (noting that any employee who “regularly receives each pay period . . . a
    predetermined amount constituting all or part of his compensation, which amount is not subject to
    reduction because of variations in the quality or quantity of the work performed” is considered an
    employee paid “on a salary basis”).
    B.      Homebound’s two-part salary scheme involving a “minimum guarantee plus extras”
    Havey next claims that Homebound’s salary scheme, which adjusts salaries each quarter on a
    prospective basis, is akin to the example of a non-salary system provided in 
    29 C.F.R. § 541.118
    (b).
    That is, she argues that although an underwriter is guaranteed a minimum compensation of $48,000
    per year, any quarterly downward adjustment of a “base level” salary above $48,000 per year based
    on the quantity or quality of loans is still a “reduction because of variations in the quality or quantity
    10
    of the work performed” prohibited by 
    29 C.F.R. § 541.118
    (a). In support of her claim, Havey cites
    to the example of a non-salary scheme given in 
    29 C.F.R. § 541.118
    (b) which states:
    “The test of payment on a salary basis will not be met . . . if the salary is divided into
    two parts for the purpose of circumventing the requirement of payment ‘on a salary
    basis.’ For example, a salary of $200 in each week in which any work is performed,
    and an additional $50 which is made subject to deductions which are not permitted
    [under 
    29 C.F.R. § 541.118
    (a)].”
    A two-part salary scheme in which employees receive a “predetermined amount,” plus, on a
    quarterly prospective basis, an additional portion subject to deductions for quality errors does not
    violate the “salary-basis test” unless the system is designed to circumvent the requirements of the
    FLSA. See 
    29 C.F.R. § 541.118
    (b). There is an important difference between the example of a non-
    salary scheme provided in 
    29 C.F.R. § 541.118
    (b) and Homebound’s salary scheme. Pursuant to 
    29 C.F.R. § 541.2
    (e)(2), an individual who earns more than $250 per week and is engaged primarily in
    work directly related to management policies or general business operations “requiring the exercise
    of discretion and independent judgment” qualifies as one who is employed in a “bona fide
    administrative capacity” and this is not subject to the overtime provisions of the FLSA. In the
    example given by the regulation quoted above of a non-qualifying divided salary, the predetermined
    amount of salary guaranteed to an employee is only $200 and therefore fails to conform to the
    specification of a “rate of not less than $250 per week.” The example given illustrates an effort to
    “circumvent[] the requirement[s]” by allowing deduction from a salary of $250 per week, which
    would drop the salary below the minimum threshold for the test. By contrast, Homebound’s two-
    part salary scheme guarantees the underwriter a predetermined amount well in excess of the
    regulatory threshold. The defendant’s two-part salary scheme was not designed for the purpose of
    circumventing the requirements of the FLSA. Rather, it was designed to give underwriters an
    incentive to take on larger quantities of work, while maintaining standards of care so that they were
    not receiving additional pay for shoddy work that needed to be done over.
    Havey further argues that once an employer and employee enter into an employment
    11
    agreement that sets a “base level” salary, there can be no reduction below that base level. Such a
    rigid rule finds no support in the text of the FLSA or its regulations.8 Havey’s argument might have
    validity if the salary scheme failed to provide an inviolable and sufficient minimum predetermined
    amount. Homebound, however, guaranteed to Havey a predetermined minimum of $48,000, which
    taken together with her administrative duties, satisfies the tests.
    The ability of an employer, acting unilaterally or as part of a voluntary agreement with its
    employee, to modify an employment agreement is not without limits. Where the practice of
    prospectively changing salaries occurs so as to render the salary a “sham—the functional equivalent
    of hourly wages,” 
    id. at 1179
    , it would offend the “salary-basis test.” See 
    29 C.F.R. § 541.118
    (b).
    Homebound’s quarterly prospective adjustment of a “base level,” always matching or exceeding a
    predetermined amount of $48,000, could not be considered a sham.9
    Under its tiered compensation system, Homebound and an individual underwriter
    prospectively set a “base level” salary each quarter, always matching or exceeding a predetermined
    $48,000, and potentially reaching a higher level based on the underwriter’s agreement to process an
    elevated volume of loans during a given quarter while maintaining a certain quality level. An
    underwriter would receive the predetermined portion of her pay (equivalent to $48,000 per year) for
    8
    In a similar context, the Tenth Circuit found that quarterly, prospective adjustments based on the reduction in
    workload associated with the business needs of the employer did not violate the “salary-basis test.” The Tenth Circuit
    reasoned that:
    Although [29 C.F.R.] § 541.118 does not define “predetermined amount,” the natural reading of the term is that
    it refers to the amount previously agreed on for the period for which the salary is to be paid, not an amount
    that had been agreed on for some earlier period. Nothing in the language of the regulation suggests a contrary
    reading. Section 541.118 prohibits various deductions from the contractual salary, but it contains no explicit
    requirement that the salary set (“determined”) for one pay period be continued to the next.
    In re Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 
    395 F.3d 1177
    , 1184 (10th Cir. 2005).
    9
    While we do not have the benefit of the views of the Department of Labor in this particular case, our holding
    is consistent with the position of the Department in certain of its opinion letters submitted in similar cases. See Wal-Mart
    Stores, Inc., 
    395 F.3d at 1185-86
     (collecting and analyzing DOL opinion letters). In one of these letters, the Department
    explained that it has “consistently taken the position that a bona fide reduction in an employee’s salary does not preclude
    salary-basis payment as long as the reduction is not designed to circumvent the requirement that the employees be paid
    their full salary in any week in which they perform work.” U.S. Department of Labor, Wage & Hour Div., Opinion
    Letter dated February 23, 1998, 
    1998 WL 852696
    .
    12
    the following quarter whether or not she met the productivity or quality targets. Any changes to the
    “base level” for the subsequent quarter would then be agreed upon by the employer and the
    underwriter. (Indeed, there is evidence that some of these changes were prompted by the
    underwriters themselves when they wanted to work less.) The “base level,” and the employee’s pay,
    however was never below the predetermined $48,000 rate. Accordingly, we conclude, given an
    underwriter’s duties, that Homebound’s practice of quarterly, prospective adjustments to an
    underwriter’s “base level,” based in part on the projected amount of work undertaken for the
    quarter but never falling below $48,000, does not give the underwriter an entitlement to overtime
    pay.
    CONCLUSION
    For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the District Court is AFFIRMED.
    13