Overtime Eligibility in California as of 2025 — Especially Important For Non-Exempt Employees

🕒 California Overtime Rules (2025)

✅ When Is Overtime Required?

California requires daily and weekly overtime pay for non-exempt employees:

🔹 Daily Overtime

• Over 8 hours in a single workday = 1.5× pay
• Over 12 hours in a single workday = 2× pay
• Over 8 hours on the 7th consecutive day in a workweek = 2× pay

🔹 Weekly Overtime

• Over 40 hours in a workweek = 1.5× pay
• A workweek is defined as any 7 consecutive days, not necessarily Monday–Sunday

🔹 7th Day Rule

• If you work all 7 days in a row:
  • First 8 hours on the 7th day = 1.5× pay
  • Over 8 hours on the 7th day = 2× pay

💼 Example

Let’s say you worked this schedule:

✅ You’d earn:

• Overtime on Monday (1 hr over 8) = 1.5× pay
• Overtime on Wednesday (2 hrs over 8) = 1.5× pay
• Overtime on Sunday:
  • First 8 hrs = 1.5× pay (7th consecutive day)
  • Last 1 hr = 2× pay

🔒 Who’s Eligible?

• Only non-exempt employees are legally entitled to overtime.
• Exempt employees (managers, professionals, etc. who meet exemption criteria) do not get overtime.

📌 Notes

• Overtime must be calculated on both daily and weekly bases — whichever results in more pay.
• Employers cannot waive these rules even with employee agreement.
• Comp time (time off in lieu of overtime pay) is not allowed in the private sector.