“Yes,” your employer can require you to work overtime and can fire you if you refuse, according to the Fair Labor Standards Act or FLSA (29 U.S.C. § 201 and following), the federal overtime law. And “no,” your employer doesn’t have to pay you overtime if you work more than eight hours in a day.

Can salaried employees be expected to work overtime?

Salaried employees can receive overtime payment just like employees who work and are paid hourly. Salaried employees may be exempt from overtime if they make a certain amount or perform specific duties that are not recognized as eligible for overtime pay.

Can a company demand mandatory overtime?

The answer is yes, an employer can force employees to work mandatory overtime. Employers can also terminate an employee for refusal to work the mandated overtime. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is responsible for establishing the 40-hour work week for employees.

Can my employer fire me for not working overtime?

A: Yes. An employer has the right to dictate an employee’s work schedule, and so may require them to work past their regular work hours. In addition, an employer may discipline an employee if they refuse to work overtime – this discipline can even include termination.

Can a employer force you to work overtime?

The FLSA sets no limits on how many hours a day or week your employer can require you to work. It requires only that employers pay employees overtime (time and a half the worker’s regular rate of pay) for any hours over 40 that the employee works in a week.

Do you have to pay overtime for over 40 hours?

It requires only that employers pay employees overtime (time and a half the worker’s regular rate of pay) for any hours over 40 that the employee works in a week. (Some states’ laws, however, give employees more rights than the FLSA does, so check with your state department of employment or labor to be sure.)

When does mandatory overtime become a viable option?

10. When Is a Lawsuit a Viable Option? Sometimes referred to as forced overtime, mandatory overtime is when an employer requires employees to work more than their regularly scheduled 40-hour work week. Employers can make the extra hours mandatory and do not need the approval of employees to make it a requirement.

Can a salaried employee be exempt from overtime?

An increasing number of lawsuits are being filed against employers who mandate excessive overtime hours for their employees. This seems to be occurring in the salaried category where employees are considered exempt. Employers are beginning to consider longer hours a normal workday without the benefit of overtime pay.