Workweek
Workweek Essentials: A Brief Overview
Defining a Workweek:
- Spans seven consecutive 24-hour periods (168 hours).
- Employers choose the start day.
Individual Workweeks:
- Full-time: typically 40 hours.
- Overtime: hourly beyond 40 hours, salaried has no set limit.
FLSA Definition:
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets a recurring 168-hour period.
Importance:
1. Overtime Pay:
- Basis for determining overtime pay.
- Ensures non-exempt employees receive extra pay for hours beyond 40.
2. FLSA Compliance:
- Vital for FLSA adherence.
- Noncompliance may result in fines or imprisonment.
Changing the Workweek:
- Possible with a legitimate reason.
- Frequent changes may raise concerns about avoiding overtime payments.
Origin of the Workweek:
- Predates FLSA.
- Ford Motors adopted the 40-hour workweek in 1926.
- FLSA established the 44-hour workweek in 1938, later amended to 40 hours in 1940.
Choosing the Start Day:
- Start on a non-working day for payroll ease.
- Multiple workweeks for seven-day businesses, each starting on a different day.