Wage & Hour Guides
Practical, accurate guides to U.S. wage and hour law covering overtime, minimum wage, exemptions, tipped pay and final paychecks, for workers, managers and HR teams.
A step-by-step guide to calculating overtime under the FLSA: the 40-hour rule, the regular rate, time and a half, and the states that require daily overtime.
Time and a half means 1.5× your hourly rate. Learn when it applies, how to calculate it for any wage, and common myths about weekends and holidays.
Every state's 2026 minimum wage, from the federal $7.25 floor up to $17.95 in Washington, D.C., plus which states raised pay in January 2026.
The difference between exempt and non-exempt employees, the 2026 salary threshold, and why a salary alone doesn't make you exempt from overtime.
Final-paycheck deadlines by state for employees who are fired versus those who quit, from immediate payment to the next regular payday.
How the tip credit works, the $2.13 federal cash wage, and the seven states that ban the tip credit and require the full minimum wage before tips.
California's overtime rules go beyond the federal 40-hour week: 1.5× over 8 hours a day, 2× over 12, and special pay on the 7th consecutive workday.
Yes, many salaried workers are owed overtime. Learn when salaried employees qualify for overtime and how to check your own classification.
Double time means 2× your hourly rate. Learn when it's required (mostly California), when it's just employer policy, and how to calculate it.
Whether unused PTO must be paid out when you leave a job: the four states that require it, and how to value your accrued vacation.
Remote teams trigger the wage and hour laws of every state employees work in. A practical guide to staying compliant across jurisdictions.
Nineteen states raised their minimum wage on January 1, 2026. See the new rates and what they mean for workers and employers.
The simple formula to convert an annual salary to an hourly wage, why 2,080 hours is the standard year, and how to handle part-time and seasonal work.
When a city or county sets a minimum wage above the state's, the higher local rate wins. How local minimum wages work in Seattle, NYC, LA, Chicago and more.
Gross pay is what you earn; net pay is what you take home. The deductions that bridge the gap — FICA, withholding, and benefits — explained in plain terms.
Every line on a pay stub has a meaning. Here's what gross pay, net pay, FICA, federal and state withholding, YTD, and deduction codes all mean.
Key differences between independent contractors and employees: who controls the work, who pays taxes, and how to spot worker misclassification.
Federal law does not require rest or meal breaks for adults, but many states do. A state-by-state summary of meal periods and paid rest-break rules.
Wage garnishment lets a creditor collect a debt directly from your paycheck. Federal law caps the amount; some states cap it lower. Here's how it works.
Travel time pay depends on whether travel is before or during your workday. FLSA rules for commuting, day travel, overnight travel, and emergency call-outs.
FICA taxes fund Social Security and Medicare. Employers and employees each pay 7.65% — 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare — on every paycheck.
On-call pay depends on whether you are restricted or unrestricted while waiting. The FLSA tests that determine when standby time counts as compensable hours.
Tip pooling lets employers distribute tips among employees. Under the FLSA, back-of-house staff can join a valid tip pool — but only under certain conditions.
The regular rate of pay is the base for overtime calculations, not just your hourly wage. How bonuses, commissions, and shift differentials raise the rate.
Biweekly pay means 26 paychecks a year; semi-monthly means 24. The difference affects benefit deductions, overtime calculations, and paycheck size.
Tipped employees are owed overtime on the full minimum wage, not the cash wage. How to calculate overtime correctly for tipped workers under the FLSA.