Overtime Laws: FLSA Daily and Weekly Overtime Regulations
Under the US Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), non-exempt employees must receive overtime pay for hours worked over 40 in a single workweek. Overtime must be compensated at a rate not less than 1.5 times the employee’s regular rate of pay. While the FLSA does not mandate overtime pay for work on weekends or holidays (unless those hours push the employee over 40 for the week), individual states impose stricter rules.
For example, California requires daily overtime pay of 1.5 times the regular rate for any hours worked beyond 8 up to 12 in a single workday, and double time (2.0 times the regular rate) for hours worked beyond 12. California also mandates 1.5 times pay for the first 8 hours worked on the seventh consecutive day of a workweek, and double time for any hours worked beyond 8 on that seventh day. Understanding these thresholds is essential for accurate timesheet computations.