[froindt]

> I don't see how any of that is relevant to whether one has salary or not?

I suppose it's not specific to salary, more to the type of work. In the US with production workers, a salary would be quite unusual. I have friends working at many companies and have never heard of the production employees being salaried.

> * I also have flexibility to start/end my day when I want within reason

Generally production employees work specific shifts with specified start and end times. Showing up 15 minutes late yields a verbal warning, 1 point on a discipline tree, etc. This can happen with salary positions as well, but I can't say I've ever seen it. It's more a "get your work done" attitude than anything.

> * I never have to take time off for doctors visits

I should have said "If I get sick, my paycheck isn't any smaller because I had to go to the doctor or take 3 days off."