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How Does Overtime Work in Washington State

Employers must be familiar with the overtime regulations in Washington State to ensure that they are in compliance with the law. Overtime in Washington State is defined as any hours worked in excess of 40 hours in a workweek. This article will discuss the overtime regulations in Washington State, the overtime rate, and overtime pay requirements.

Washington State Overtime Regulations

Washington State has adopted the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The FLSA requires employers to pay overtime to non-exempt employees at a rate of one and one-half times their regular rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek. This requirement applies to all employers in the state, regardless of size or type of business.

Washington State does not have any additional overtime regulations. However, employers must adhere to the FLSA overtime regulations, including paying non-exempt employees for any hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek, and providing overtime pay for any hours worked beyond 12 hours in a workday.

Overtime Rate

In Washington State, the overtime rate is one and one-half times the employee’s regular rate of pay. This means that if an employee earns $15 per hour, they must be paid $22.50 per hour for any overtime hours worked.

Employers must also consider any bonuses, commissions, or other forms of compensation when calculating the overtime rate. For example, if an employee is paid a bonus of $500 for working overtime, the employer must calculate the bonus as an additional part of the employee’s regular rate of pay. This means that the employee’s overtime rate must be calculated based on the employee’s total regular pay, including the bonus.

Overtime Pay Requirements

In Washington State, employers must pay non-exempt employees overtime at the rate of one and one-half times their regular rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek. This means that if an employee works 50 hours in a workweek, they must be paid for 10 hours at the overtime rate.

The overtime pay must be paid at the same time as the employee’s regular pay. This means that the employee must receive the overtime pay on the same pay period in which the overtime hours were worked. Additionally, employers must keep accurate records of the hours worked and the overtime pay rate.

Conclusion

Employers in Washington State must comply with the overtime regulations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. This includes paying non-exempt employees overtime at the rate of one and one-half times their regular rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek. Additionally, employers must calculate the overtime rate based on the employee’s total regular pay, including bonuses, commissions, or other forms of compensation. Finally, employers must pay the overtime pay at the same time as the employee’s regular pay and keep accurate records of the hours worked and the overtime pay rate.