Economic News

Yes. If an employee is paid by the hour, an employer can require the employee to work overtime but must pay the rate of time and a half the regular rate of the employee's pay for any time over 40 hours in a seven-day period.

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the minimum age for employment in non-agricultural employment is 14. Hours worked by 14- and 15-year-olds are limited to:

• Non-school hours;
• 3 hours in a school day;
• 18 hours in a school week;
• 8 hours on a non-school day;
• 40 hours on a non-school week; and
• Hours between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (except from June 1 through Labor Day, when evening hours are extended to 9 p.m.)

Youth 14 and 15 years old enrolled in an approved Work Experience and Career Exploration Program (WECEP) may be employed for up to 23 hours in school weeks and 3 hours on school days (including during school hours).
The FLSA does not limit the number of hours or times of day for workers 16 years and older.

There is no separate wage for students or minors. The minimum wage applies to all employees regardless of their age or student status.

For covered, nonexempt employees, state law requires overtime pay at a rate of not less than one and one‐half times an employee’s regular rate of pay after 40 hours of work in a week of seven days. Some exceptions to the 40 hours per week standard apply under special circumstances to police officers and firefighters employed by public agencies and to employees of hospitals and nursing homes.