Is it against the law to make Medical Residents work 80 hrs a week and only pay them $38,000?

Question

Is it against the law to make Medical Residents work 80 hrs a week and only pay them $38,000?

Answer 1

Nope, not illegal - that's still over minimum wage, and the residents are most likely exempt from FLSA anyway.

Answer 2

No.  If the position is salaried then it can be required to work over 40 hours.  Is it right...no.  But legal.

Answer 3

Residency is considered much like a "stipend"--you receive some money but it doesn't really equate to the typical person's paid employment as residents are still considered to be learning in an unique situation.  Medical staff (MDs etc) are pretty much exempt from all the usual laws governing hourly pay--all work long hours and receive a set "pay".