Can an employer force an hourly employee to be a salaried employee in order to not pay overtime?

No, an employer cannot simply change an hourly employee to a salaried employee in order to avoid paying overtime. In order to be exempt from overtime pay requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), a salaried employee must meet certain criteria, such as being paid a minimum salary and performing certain job duties. If an employer reclassifies an employee as salaried without meeting these criteria, they may be violating the FLSA and could be subject to legal action. Additionally, employees who are classified as exempt from overtime pay requirements but do not meet the criteria may be entitled to back pay for any overtime they worked but did not receive proper compensation for. Employers should consult with legal counsel and follow the proper procedures when classifying employees as exempt or non-exempt from overtime pay requirements. It is also important for employees to understand their rights under the FLSA and speak up if they believe their employer is not following the law.