I'm just coming off of a salary position (being laid off just in time to not get a yearly bonus). Supposedly it was beneficial to be on a Salary and not hourly. I don't really see it. Supposedly, I think it means if there isn't much work, I am paid the same. But this is as long as no one notices. Some disorganized busybody would give me work if I didn't have any.
Paid days off? I costed the employer $between 7000 and 10000 this year in paid time off, which includes holidays. However, I've been a full-time employee with PTO and got paid days off. So this isn't unique to Salaried people. I've been a temp and contractor where I get punished for holidays that are not my own (your corporate holiday on the 25th), and I get punished for taking my holidays off that you don't recognize. Which could equal a few thousand dollars.
The only benefit I could find is I didn't have to complete a timecard, which was nice, so I stopped caring. Otherwise, the only difference between being on a salary and being hourly is this:
A) Salary: If there isn't much work, either no one notices and I just don't work and get paid, or if I was hourly I'm forced to leave and be unpaid. (However, there are positions, where you have to be available and waiting and can't go home, so this is not even universal)
B) Salary: If there is too much work, I'm expected to complete it no matter what. If I am hourly, I am done at 40 and it wait until next week.
So, the jokes about “I'm glad I'm hourly” seem true. Not sure why I should want to be salary, especially if I bust my ass, my bonus is stolen.