Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) Practice Exam 2025 - Free Payroll Practice Questions and Study Guide

White collar employees are typically professionals who perform tasks that require specialized knowledge and skills, often in office settings rather than engaging in manual labor. The distinction is important because many white collar employees can be classified as exempt from certain labor laws, particularly those related to wages and overtime, based on their job responsibilities and salary levels.

Exempt employees usually fall under categories defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which delineates specific criteria regarding the nature of the work performed and the amount of pay. This classification allows employers not to pay overtime for hours worked over 40 in a workweek, which is a significant aspect of why option B accurately describes white collar workers.

In contrast, other choices relate to different employment characteristics: manual labor is characteristic of blue collar workers, minimum wage protections apply broadly but are not exclusive to white collar workers, and part-time workers can have varied classifications that do not specifically align with the traits of white collar employment. Thus, option B provides the best description of the characteristics associated with white collar employees.