Work Hours

This section provides information about the work hours, including mandatory overtime (forced overtime), that employers may schedule for adult employees age 16 and older without violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), less often referred to as the Wages and Hours Act.

It also provides information about the work hours and job duties that employers may or may not schedule for employees age 17 and younger, in compliance with the child-labor provisions of the FLSA.

Topics about Work Hours

Mandatory Overtime
Discover whether or not employees must work mandatory overtime hours to keep their jobs. Also referred to as forced overtime.

Work Hours - Adults
Work hours employers may schedule for employees age 16 and older, under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Includes information about work-hour restrictions under other Federal laws.

Work Hours for Minors - Child Labor
Work-hour and job-duty restrictions for minors of age 17 and younger, under Federal child labor law.

Topics Related to Work Hours

Click on a link below to display the related topic indicated. Click on the to display the section from which the related topic originates.

Overtime Work Hours
Overtime work hours and pay simply explained, under the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and equivalent state laws. Includes information about the legal recourse workers have for employer violations.

Show-Up Pay or Reporting Pay
Explains show-up pay as it applies to lack of work hours and provides information about the related laws. Also referred to as reporting pay.

Work Breaks and Meals
Work breaks include what are referred to as rest, coffee, bathroom, restroom, toilet, snack or smoke breaks. Meal breaks include dinner and lunch breaks. Discover why some employers are so stingy with them.

See Benefits for topics related to paid and unpaid work hours not worked, such as vacation, sick leave and leave of absence.