I think the original idea of exempt employees was that you were paid for your work, not your hours. There was a trade-off; you couldn't be required to work a c

I think the original idea of exempt employees was that you were paid for your work, not your hours. There was a trade-off; you couldn't be required to work a certain shift, but neither would you be paid for being present for longer than your shift. In reality, of course, this often leads to the expectation of longer hours, because why not.