Overtime

Overtime Rules per Washington State Law (Washington State Department of Labor and Industries) 

Employees who work more than 40 hours in a 7-day workweek must be paid overtime. Overtime pay must be at least 1.5 times the employee’s regular hourly rate for all hours worked over 40 hours in a week. 

Employees cannot waive their right to overtime pay. 

Washington law does not require overtime for hours worked over 8 hours in a day. 

Only salaried employees who meet the executive, administrative, and professional definitions – often called “white-collar” jobs – are exempt from overtime. 

Only public employees are eligible for time off instead of being paid overtime under federal law. This is commonly known as “comp time” or “exchange time.” This time off must be credited at the rate of at least 1.5 hours of time off for each hour of overtime worked. Private employers cannot enter into these agreements. 

Penalties/Sanctions 

In addition to the rights and remedies available to persons through private suits for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Department of Labor uses a variety of remedies to enforce compliance with the Act's requirements. When Wage and Hour Division investigators encounter violations, they recommend changes in employment practices to bring the employer into compliance, and they request the payment of any back wages due to employees. 

Willful violators may be prosecuted criminally and fined up to $10,000. A second conviction may result in imprisonment. Employers who willfully or repeatedly violate the minimum wage or overtime pay requirements are subject to civil money penalties for each violation.