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HR Support on Complying with Overtime Laws

Editor's Note: Paying for overtime - not as easy as it sounds.

Michael CardmanOverview: Overtime laws seem simple. When employees work more than 40 hours in a week, their employer must pay them one and a half times their regular rate of pay. So an employee who earns $10 an hour must be paid $15 an hour for every hour after 40 ...

While that general rule holds true in most cases, there are many variations that can complicate matters quickly. For example, what if an employee receives a bonus or a commission? In some cases, those payments must be factored in to the regular rate of pay. Or, what if an employee performs different jobs at different rates of pay for the same employer?

Also, not all employees need to be paid overtime on the basis of a 40-hour workweek. Certain unionized employees, medical care providers, police and firefighters can be paid according to alternative work periods as long as 28 days.

In addition, overtime laws vary among the states so it's critical that an employer follow state law when calculating employee overtime.

Trends: Employees continue to file, and win, lawsuits seeking unpaid overtime at a rapid pace. At the same time, the federal government and state labor agencies are enforcing overtime laws more aggressively than ever. There appears to be no end in sight to this trend, and employers should remain vigilant in complying with overtime laws.

Author: Michael Cardman, Legal Editor

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HR guidance on complying with federal and state employee overtime laws. Support on following rules and regulations regarding this employment law topic.

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