When you accepted a job as a salaried employee, you thought that you’d be working your normal hours but at a higher rate. The goal with a salary is to make sure you’re getting the same payment every pay period, even if you have a lighter or slightly heavier workload.
What you didn’t expect was that you’d be working 10 or 20 hours longer than you expected when you took the role. Interestingly, you may still be able to seek overtime if you’re regularly going over 40 hours a week.
What is the mandatory overtime ceiling?
In December 2016, mandatory overtime had a ceiling of $47,476 for salaried workers. What that meant was that anyone earning less than that amount would still be entitled to overtime. In 2021, workers who earn under $35,568 are required to be paid overtime if they work over their usual hours. It’s important to note that the wage cap has changed over time, and it continue to change. That means that you will need to look at the current law before determining if you haven’t been paid overtime that you deserve.
The mandatory overtime amount will also vary by state. Florida defers to the Fair Labor Standards Act, so the federal guidance will apply in your case.
Why is there a mandatory overtime law?
The reason for mandatory overtime and other similar laws is that businesses would be able to easily take advantage of salaried employees without them. These laws make it harder to overwork lower wage earners, so that businesses aren’t able to request unreasonable hours at an unreasonable wage. If you feel that you’ve been unfairly treated, it’s time to look into your salary, the overtime you’ve done and to see if you qualify for additional payments.
