What is the federal law on overtime pay?
The federal law on overtime pay is known as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This law requires companies to pay employees at least one and a half times their regular rate of pay for any hours worked beyond 40 hours in a workweek. This means that any hours worked beyond 8 hours in a day, or beyond 40 hours in a week, must be paid at a rate of time and a half. The FLSA also sets a minimum hourly wage of $7.25 which employers must pay their employees. In California, the law on overtime pay is similar to the FLSA but there are a few exceptions. California employers must pay employees overtime pay at a rate of two times their regular rate of pay for any hours worked over 8 hours in a day, or over 40 hours in a week. California also has a higher minimum hourly wage than the federal rate - currently set at $13.00 per hour. Moreover, California employers must also provide their employees with a mandatory 30-minute meal break for every 5 hours worked, and a mandatory 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours worked. If the meal and/or rest breaks are not provided, employers must pay the employee 1 hour of pay for each break not taken. Overall, the federal and California laws on overtime pay are largely similar, with California having more stringent requirements in most areas. Employers must abide by both federal and state regulations to ensure their employees are paid properly for the time they work.
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