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

| 04/06/2025 | Blog


🕒 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:

DayHours Worked
Monday9
Tuesday8
Wednesday10
Thursday8
Friday8
Saturday6
Sunday9

✅ 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.