Can you work over 40 hours a week in California?
Asked by: Kali White | Last update: September 28, 2025Score: 4.3/5 (24 votes)
Is anything over 40 hours a week overtime in California?
On top of this, regular overtime laws still apply, meaning you must pay employees overtime at least 1.5x the regular rate of pay for all hours over 40 in a given workweek.
Is anything over 40 hours legally overtime?
In California, employers are required by law to provide 1.5x pay for every hour an employee works beyond: 40 hours in a workweek. 8 hours in a workday. 6 days in a workweek.
What is the longest shift you can legally work in California?
Wage and Hour Laws: Working Overtime in California
There isn't a set restriction on how long a person can work in a day in California, but overtime regulations do apply. California's lunch law mandates a 30-minute meal break for shifts over five hours, and a second break for shifts over 10 hours.
Can you work 50 hours a week in California?
There is generally no cap on the number of hours you can legally work in a day. But under California labor laws, you as a non-exempt employee are entitled to overtime pay if you work: More than eight (8) hours in a single workday; More than forty (40) hours in a single workweek; or.
Can a salaried employee refuse to work over 40 hours per week? Can they refuse overtime?
Is working 80 hours a week illegal?
There is no limit in the Act on the number of hours employees aged 16 and older may work in any workweek.
What is the new overtime rule in California?
Key Changes in the New Overtime Rule
As of July 1, 2024, most salaried employees earning less than $844 per week ($43,888 annually) will be entitled to overtime pay. This threshold will increase again on January 1, 2025, to $1,128 per week ($58,656 annually).
Does OSHA have a 16 hour rule?
Generally, no, there are no federal laws that limit how many hours you can work in a single day. (Though some state labor laws have maximum hour laws for minors.)
What is the maximum hours you can work in a day in California?
Under California wage and hour laws, there is no limit to the number of hours an employee can work in one workday. Employees could work a full 24-hour period, but they would be entitled to overtime pay and potentially other benefits.
What is the longest shift you can legally work?
Presently, no OSHA standard to regulate extended and unusual shifts in the workplace exists. A work period of eight consecutive hours over five days with at least eight hours of rest in between shifts defines a standard shift. Any shift that goes beyond this standard is considered to be extended or unusual.
What is the 7th day rule in California?
If an employee does work for more than six days in a row, the first eight hours worked on the seventh day must be compensated at 1.5x the normal hourly wage. Any time worked beyond the first eight hours must be compensated at 2x the normal hourly wage.
How do companies get away with not paying overtime?
How Do Employers Avoid Paying Overtime? Employers attempt to avoid paying their workers overtime in a variety of ways, including but not limited to: Classifying them as exempt employees or independent contractors. Neither exempt employees nor independent contractors are entitled to be paid overtime.
What are the new overtime rules for 2024?
Beginning July 1, 2024, the new DOL rule would have increased the salary threshold, making millions of previously exempt employees nonexempt from overtime pay. The new overtime rule was set to increase the FLSA salary threshold to $43,888 annually ($844 per week), up from $35,568 ($684 per week).
Is it legal to work over 40 hours a week without overtime?
Yes, California law requires that employers pay overtime, whether authorized or not, at the rate of one and one-half times the employee's regular rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of eight up to and including 12 hours in any workday, and for the first eight hours of work on the seventh consecutive day of work ...
Is Sunday double time in California?
Once an employee works past 12 hours in a day, the rate of overtime pay enters double time, where employees earn twice their normal rates. Employees are also entitled to double time in California if they work more than 8 hours on a Sunday, after a 7-day work week.
What is an example of pyramiding of overtime?
Overtime pyramiding is the (often mistaken) practice of counting the same hours against two different overtime limits. The most common example of overtime pyramiding is using hours that have been counted against daily overtime to calculate a weekly overtime limit.
Can I work more than 40 hours a week in California?
An employee who works in excess of 40 hours in a workweek must be paid overtime at one and one-half times the employee's regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in the workweek.
What is the 4-hour rule in California?
As we enter the brand-new year of 2023, employers in California are still required to pay a minimum of four hours of wages to employees who report to work, regardless of whether they are actually able to work for the full shift.
What is the longest shift you can work in California?
What Is the Longest Shift You Can Legally Work in California? In California, the length of employee shifts isn't capped. But if an employee works for more than a certain number of hours, they may be entitled to overtime compensation.
Are you required to have 8 hours off between shifts in California?
In California, there is no law requiring a minimum number of hours between shifts. Therefore, it is legal to be scheduled with any amount of time between shifts, including less than 8 hours. This applies throughout the state.
What is the OSHA 4 minute rule?
OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.269(b)(1)(ii) requires that for fixed work locations such as generating stations, the number of trained persons available shall be sufficient to ensure that each employee exposed to electric shock can be reached within 4 minutes by a trained person.
Is it legal to work 5 to 12 hour shifts in a row?
How Many 12-Hour Shifts Can You Work In A Row Without Weekly Rest Breaks? The answer to this, put simply, is 6 consecutive 12-hour shifts, limited by the working time regulations 1988. 11 hours of adequate rest must be allowed between shifts.
Is 32 hours full-time in California?
The standard definition of full-time hours in California is between 32 and 40 hours per week. However, it's important to note that after the implementation of the ACA, workers are considered part-time if they work less than 30 hours per week, and full-time if they work 30 hours a week or more.
What happens if I take my lunch after 5 hours in California?
If you take your lunch after 5 hours in California, your employer must pay you for one extra hour at your regular hourly rate for each workday. This is because California law requires a meal break within the first 5 hours of work.
What is the most hours a salaried employee can work?
Are there maximum or minimum salaried hour requirements? There are no maximum or minimum hour requirements for salaried employees. If an employee works more than 40 hours, their pay will not reflect overtime hours. Likewise, if an employee works fewer than 40 hours, an employer can't reduce their pay.