Work Hours: Overtime, Breaks, and More

Overtime Pay: Your Rights as an Employee

Learn when employees are entitled to overtime pay.

Do You Have an Overtime Case?

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.

Calculating Work Hours

When a work day or other pay period begins and ends is determined by a law called the Portal-to-Portal Pay Act. (29 U.S.C.

Furloughs, Hour Cuts, and Pay Cuts: Your Rights

During the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak or other economic downturns, many employers furlough workers or cut pay to avoid or minimize permanent layoffs. What legal rules apply?

Meal and Rest Breaks: Your Rights as an Employee

Many employers provide employees with a rest or lunch break, whether paid or unpaid. This common practice is not required everywhere, however: The federal wage and hour law, called the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), doesn't require employers to provide meal or rest breaks.

State Laws on Meal and Rest Breaks

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

Getting Paid for Travel Time

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

Understanding the “White-Collar” Exemptions

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