Overtime Rules

The article provides an overview of the overtime calculation rules adhered to by BambooHR Time & Attendance. It is designed for administrators responsible for managing overtime settings. The content includes state-specific overtime rules under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and variations for Canadian provinces. Key points include the standard overtime rate of 1.5 times the hourly wage for hours worked over 40 in a week, with additional stipulations for certain states and provinces. For example, California has distinct rules for daily and weekly overtime, while Alaska applies different criteria based on daily hours. The guide emphasizes the importance of understanding local regulations for accurate payroll management. For further details on custom overtime rules, users are directed to additional resources.

  • Apr 27, 2026
  • Knowledge

Title
Overtime Rules
Article Text
BambooHR Time & Attendance (formerly BambooHR Time Tracking) is only included as an add-on.

How is overtime calculated?

Purpose: To explain the state-specific overtime rules BambooHR Time & Attendance adheres to.

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Table of Contents

Who this is for

Administrators or payroll administrators in charge of managing overtime settings.

This guide outlines the state-specific overtime rules BambooHR adheres to if you select the standard overtime settings. For more information about setting up custom overtime rules, click here.

Overtime rules for specific states

FLSA requires payment of time and a half (1.5x) for any hours worked over 40 in a single workweek. For states not listed below, the default calculation is 1.5x. BambooHR has programmed different overtime rules for the following states. Click here to find the overtime rate per state. 

Alaska

  1. Overtime hours apply to any time worked after 8 hours in a single workday or 40 hours in a week.
  2. If a shift spans midnight in the employee's timezone, overtime stops at midnight, and hours restart for the new day.

California

  1. Overtime hours include any time after eight hours in a single day, 40 hours in a week, or the first eight hours on the seventh consecutive workday in a workweek. All of these pay at 1.5x the hourly rate.
  2. A 2x pay rate applies after 12 hours in a single day or eight hours on the seventh consecutive day.

Overtime hours breakdowns (1.5x vs. 2x) appear only when a comparison is necessary. It does not show if the employee was only eligible for the 1.5x hourly rate. This breakdown of overtime hours appears in the following places in BambooHR when applicable:

  • Employee's view: Timesheet and timesheet summary.
  • Approver's view: Approval notification in BambooHR, approval email notification, and timesheet details.
  • Admin's view: Payroll Hours report (1.5x and 2x differentiates in the same column), Payroll Hours report export (each rate shows in a separate column), Payroll Hours Detail report export (each rate shows in a separate column).

BambooHR Time & Attendance calculates overtime based on a 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM workday. If your company operates an overnight shift and an employee works overtime past midnight (e.g., 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM for a total of 9 hours), the calculation no longer factors overtime for a shift longer than 8 hours because the timesheet resets at midnight. 

Colorado

  1. Overtime hours apply for any time worked after 12 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week.
  2. Overtime hours apply for any time worked after 12 consecutive hours, regardless of the starting and ending time of the workday (the hours will be considered overtime if the work begins on a Monday and finishes on a Tuesday).

BambooHR Time & Attendance calculates overtime based on a 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM workday. If your company operates an overnight shift and an employee works overtime past midnight (e.g., 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM for a total of 9 hours), the calculation no longer factors overtime for a shift longer than 12 hours because the timesheet resets at midnight. 

Kentucky

  1. Overtime hours apply to any time worked after 40 hours in a week.
  2. Overtime hours apply to any time worked on the seventh consecutive day in a workweek.
    1. Workweeks have only seven days, making this applicable for a single day.
    2. Hours worked on the previous six days count that day as a day worked.
    3. Overtime ends at midnight on the seventh day.

Puerto Rico

  1. Overtime hours apply to any time worked after 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week.
  2. Overtime hours will apply to any time worked on the seventh consecutive day in a workweek.

U.S. Virgin Islands

  1. Overtime hours apply to any time worked after 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week.
  2. Overtime hours apply to any time worked on the sixth and/or seventh consecutive day in a workweek.
Overtime rules for specific Canadian provinces

Alberta

Overtime hours apply to any time worked after 8 hours in a day or 44 hours in a week.

British Columbia

  1. Overtime hours apply to any time worked after 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week.
  2. Overtime pay will be double (2x) for any time after 12 hours in a day.

Manitoba

Overtime hours apply to any time worked after 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week.

New Brunswick

Overtime hours apply to any time worked after 44 hours in a week.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Overtime hours apply to any time worked after 40 hours in a week.

Nova Scotia

Overtime hours apply to any time worked after 48 hours in a week.

Ontario

Overtime hours apply to any time worked after 44 hours in a week.

Prince Edward Island

Overtime hours apply to any time worked after 48 hours in a week.

Quebec

Overtime hours apply to any time worked after 40 hours in a week.

Saskatchewan

Overtime hours apply to any time worked after 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week.

Yukon

Overtime hours apply to any time worked after 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week.

Northwest Territories

Overtime hours apply to any time worked after 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week.

Nunavut

Overtime hours apply to any time worked after 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week.

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