COVID19 Exemptions and Mandates in the Workplace - Flat Fee Consultations

Overtime Pay

Employee time sheet for wage and hour Under California wage law, non-exempt, hourly employees must be provided overtime pay at one and a half times their regular hourly rate of pay for hours worked above eight hours per work day, above 40 hours per week, and for the first eight hours worked on the seventh day of any workweek. If a worker believes they are being treated unfairly, hiring a Sacramento overtime pay lawyer can help.

If an employee works over 12 hours on any work day, or over eight hours on the seventh day worked in any workweek, overtime pay at twice the employee’s regular rate of pay – or ‘double time’ – must be provided by the employer. If an employer refuses to pay, an overtime pay attorney can help workers receive the compensation they deserve.

Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (the “FLSA”), employees must be provided time and a half overtime pay for hours worked above 40 hours in any workweek. For specific types of employment, different FLSA overtime triggers apply; for example, for law enforcement employees with a work period of between seven and 28 days, overtime pay starts when over 43 hours per week, or 171 hours in 28 days, are actually worked by employees.

Like most wage law issues, there are special circumstances and exceptions regarding the obligation to provide overtime pay. Overtime pay applies to ‘non-exempt, hourly employees’ and not to ‘salaried, exempt employees’.

Many employers are completely aware that they are required by law to pay overtime. However, they often refuse to pay or misclassify employees. They will label their employees as “exempt” even if they are truly “non-exempt” so they do not have to pay overtime rates. If a worker believes their boss has been intentionally misclassifying them, contacting a Sacramento overtime pay lawyer should be their first step.

Not Eligible for Overtime Pay

Some alternative work schedules, such as employees working four, ten-hour shifts per week, do not require overtime pay for the hours worked above eight hours per workday, provided all the requirements of adopting the alternative workweek schedule are met.

Unionized employees are allowed under CA wage law to bargain with their employer for overtime pay at less than time and a half overtime pay, provided the ‘premium pay’ for overtime hours is at least more than their regular ‘straight time’ pay. Various other exceptions to required overtime pay apply in various circumstances.

How To Receive Overtime Pay

Overtime pay must usually be provided as ‘cash or equivalent’ pay on the first regular payday following the overtime hours worked. In some cases, under both CA wage law and the FLSA, overtime pay can be provided as compensatory-time-off, or CTO, as long as the CTO is credited as one- and one-half hours of CTO for each hour of overtime worked.

To determine if you are eligible to sue your employer for refusing to pay overtime or misclassifying you, reach out to a Sacramento overtime pay lawyer.

If you are an employee or an employer with specific questions regarding overtime pay under either CA wage law or under the federal FLSA, contact the wage and hour lawyers at Goyette, Ruano & Thompson today.

Goyette, Ruano & Thompson, Inc.

Have your case reviewed by our team of overtime pay legal experts.

Free Case Evaluation

SCHEDULE YOUR LEGAL CONSULTATION TODAY

Contact Goyette, Ruano & Thompson to schedule your consultation. We will respond right away and work with your budget.

Skip to content