Overtime Laws in Washington State:- You have to work if your supervisor asks you to put in extra hours; otherwise, you might lose your job. Thankfully, most workers who put in more than 40 hours a week are eligible for overtime pay, which is 1.5 times their regular rate. Employers frequently encounter the issue of incorrect payroll computation.
It can be difficult to determine when you are eligible for overtime, but it will save you money if you understand the fundamentals of Washington overtime regulations and what you might be entitled.
Overtime Laws in Washington RCW 49.46.130(1):
Employers are required by Washington Labour Law to abide by the Fair Labour Standards Act (FLSA) and Washington Minimum Wage requirements when it comes to overtime.
Workers must be paid overtime for any hours beyond 40 in a workweek in order to remain in compliance with Washington State Overtime Laws. With a few exceptions (namely, public works projects), overtime compensation is not mandated for more than eight hours worked in a single day.
Workday and Workweek
A workweek is any seven consecutive days that start on the same day and hour each week, according to employers. The default workweek for an employer is the calendar week, which runs from Sunday through Saturday. Apart from some public works projects, overtime is not mandated by Washington law for workers who put in more than eight hours each day.
Who is eligible for overtime?
most commission-based, piece-rate, and hourly workers
A few paid staff members Not all salaried employees are eligible to overtime, despite common misconceptions. Only paid workers who satisfy the categories of executive, administrative, and professional roles—often referred to as “white-collar” jobs—are free from overtime requirements.
Workers in positions with prevailing wages
personnel employed in the dairy and agricultural sectors
Washington Pay & Compensation for Overtime
Employers in Washington are typically required by federal overtime law to pay workers at least 1.5 times their usual hourly rate for any overtime that is worked.
If specific collective bargaining agreements are formed, employers may be forced to pay workers more than 1.5 times their ordinary hourly rate. Generally speaking, double-time pay is not necessary—certain public works projects excluded.
How Washington Employers Determine Overtime Pay?
An example of how the typical overtime rate in Washington State is calculated is shown below.
Sample Calculation for Washington Overtime:
40 regular hours worked x regular pay rate of $20.00 per hour
= $800.00 in regular pay.
$20.00/hour (Regular Pay Rate) + $10.00/hour (Overtime Premium) = $30.00/hour (Overtime Pay Rate)
10 Overtime Hours Worked X $30.00 Per Hour (Overtime Pay Rate) = $300.00 Total Overtime Pay
$800.00 Regular Pay + $300.00 Overtime Pay
=$1,100.00 Total Pay
Jobs Not Eligible for overtime (Overtime Laws in Washington State)
In Washington, certain jobs are exempt from overtime compensation, such as:
- Employees who work in horticulture, agriculture, or ranching
- Workers on a seasonal basis at agricultural shows
- Outside sales representatives
- sellers or transporters of newspapers
- supervisory staff member whose main responsibility is management
- Periodic work in or near private homes
- Employees at youth camps who are also responsible for childcare