The Biggest Office Scam of All Time: The Salaried Worker

Can someone explain to me how corporations get away with this scam? Can't believe I ever fell for it, granted I was younger and dumber, but still...THEM: "hey kid, we're willing to pay you the same amount no matter what, so if you work 35 hours instead of 40, no problem you're still getting paid." ME: "Golly that seems like a swell deal, where do I sign!?" So naive.

Sure maybe it works in the favor of employees during a great economy, with enough co-workers to spread the work around and everyone getting out right at 5 PM sharp. But in this economy? Completely dog shit. I can't even remember the last time I didn't get to work early, didn't work at my desk through lunch and didn't stay late.  All for the grand total of $0 extra dollars...safe to say Salaried employee is just corporate speak for: Sucker We're Ass Raping Via Paycheck.

I've honestly calculated it out the past few weeks, on a per hour basis I'm making slightly more than the average new person just in out of college still getting paid OT.  Right around when you hit 45-46 hours per week they hit a break even point with me.  It's infuriating, this is what I worked for? This is what all that sucking up and bullshitting my way to the middle was for? A decent raise that now barely offsets the affects of increased overtime?  Dogshit, dogshit, dogshit, and I am not happy.