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.

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