CSLB Law & Business ExamEmployment RequirementsMedium
An employee works 8 hours per day for 7 consecutive days within a single workweek, with no day exceeding 8 hours. How must the employee be paid for the 8 hours worked on the seventh consecutive day?
- AAt double time for all 8 hours
- BAt the regular rate, since no day exceeded 8 hours
- CAt one and one-half times the regular rate only for hours over 40 that week
- DAt one and one-half times the regular rate for all 8 hours
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. At one and one-half times the regular rate for all 8 hours
California law requires that any work performed on the seventh consecutive day of work in a single workweek be paid at 1.5x for the first 8 hours, and double time for hours beyond 8, regardless of the daily 8-hour threshold.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Double time on the 7th day only applies to hours worked beyond 8 that day; here only 8 hours were worked.
- B. Incorrect because the 7th-consecutive-day rule overrides the normal daily 8-hour trigger.
- C. This ignores the special seventh-consecutive-day overtime rule, which applies independent of the 40-hour weekly threshold.
Seventh Consecutive Day Overtime Rule
California requires overtime pay for any work performed on the seventh consecutive day in a single workweek: 1.5x for the first 8 hours and 2x for hours beyond 8.
- Applies only when all seven days fall within the same workweek.
- Triggered by consecutive days worked, not total hours.
- Separate from the standard 40-hour weekly overtime rule.
Memory trick: Seven days straight? Sweeten the pay rate.