Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, what is required for overtime pay?

The requirement for overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is that eligible employees must be paid "time-and-a-half" for any hours worked over forty in a workweek. This means that if an employee's regular hourly wage is, for example, $20 per hour, they would earn $30 per hour (which is 1.5 times their regular rate) for each hour worked beyond forty hours in a week.

This regulation is designed to ensure fair compensation for employees who work longer hours and serves to discourage employers from overworking their staff without providing appropriate pay. Overtime laws are crucial for protecting workers’ rights and ensuring they are compensated fairly for their extra effort and time.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the stipulations of the FLSA regarding overtime. For example, simply raising hourly rates for every employee does not address the specific criteria for overtime pay. Paying double the regular wage is not mandated, as the law specifies the "time-and-a-half" rate. Exempting salaried employees from overtime payments applies to certain categories of employees, but it is not a general requirement that pertains to all workers under the FLSA.