Work Hours: Overtime, Breaks, and More

Learn when employees are entitled to overtime pay.

Since the Great Depression in the 1930s, most employers in the United States have been legally required to pay overtime to eligible employees who work more than 40 hours in a week. The original purpose of this rule was to spread the work around and get as many people as possible off the unemployment rolls.

When businesses hit tough times, many employers try to avoid permanent layoffs by putting their employees on furlough. These furloughs may take the form of a reduction in employee hours or what is essentially a temporary layoff. Other employers simply cut their employees' pay.

Whether your employer has to give you a rest or lunch break, whether paid or unpaid, depends on state law.

Contrary to the laws of gastronomy, federal law does not require that you be allotted or paid for breaks to eat meals.

If you take a lot of business trips, you might be wondering whether you are getting paid enough.

One of the most costly mistakes that a business can make is misclassifying its employees as exempt.