Thanks to California’s overtime laws, workers are protected from being exploited and required by their employers to work overtime that may turn dangerous to their health. In addition, these laws seek to ensure that if an employer requires the services of its employees for a period longer than the stipulated period, they are adequately remunerated.
Overtime payment
In the state, employees must work no more than 40 hours a week, equivalent to 8 hours a day. Otherwise, they must be paid 1.5 times the usual salary they earn per hour, which is considered a time and a half in the workplace.
This means that if, for example, you usually earn $15 for every hour you work, in case you have to stay working overtime or attend an extra day of work. Then, your employer should pay you $22.75 for each additional hour over the 40 hours per week that you are legally allowed to work.
Time considered as overtime
As we mentioned earlier, employees under a regular payment scheme should only work 40 hours a week or 8 hours a day. Any additional hours must be paid at 1.5 times the normal salary.
But, if you exceed the time and reach 12 hours in a single day, you should receive double your salary for every hour after this twelfth.
Who should pay for overtime?
Any company with more than 26 workers must pay overtime after the first 8 hours an employee has worked. Although, their workers have an established salary and are not paid by the hour.
As a worker, you must know your rights since, on many occasions, companies seek to receive more work hours in exchange for payment for regular hours or even without paying for the extra work that the employee does. In this way, you will be able to demand your rights appropriately and demand justice if necessary.