You work hard for a living, and you deserve to be paid for the hours you work. This can include compensation for hours worked over the standard 40-hour workweek. Many workers in New York and New Jersey are owed overtime pay above and beyond their regular wages if they work over a 40-hour workweek.
Overtime pay under federal law
Under federal law, nonexempt employees must be paid one-and-a-half times their regular wages for any time exceeding 40 hours of work in their standard week of work. Deductions cannot be made if they would cause a worker’s wages to fall below the minimum wage or reduce the overtime they are entitled to under federal law.
Overtime pay under state law
New Jersey law matches federal law. Under New Jersey law, with some exceptions, employees who work more than 40 hours in a workweek are entitled to overtime pay of one and one-half their normal wages.
The same is true under New York law. Under New York law for all hours worked above the standard 40-hour work week are to be paid at time and one-half the worker’s normal wages. There are some exceptions to this rule.
Exempt employees include certain executive employees, administrative employees and professional employees. Seasonal employees as well as certain farmworkers and casual babysitters may also be exempt.
Learn more about your overtime rights
Knowing whether you are owed in overtime is important any time you are asked to work in excess of your standard 40-hour workweek. While not all employees are entitled to overtime pay, those that are entitled to overtime pay deserve to be paid what they are owed for the time they have invested in their jobs.