Labor laws regarding overtime thresholds in Minnesota and Congress

In Minnesota, employees are subject to two distinct overtime statutes: the Minnesota Fair Labor Standards Act and the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. While the state law requires overtime pay for hours worked beyond 48 in a week, the federal law requires it after 40 hours for covered enterprises, such as those with at least $500,000 in annual sales, hospitals, and schools. When both laws apply, employers must satisfy both, effectively requiring overtime pay after 40 hours.

At the federal level, the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act (H.R. 10323) has been reintroduced in Congress. If passed, the bill would phase in a reduction of the standard workweek from 40 to 32 hours over a four-year period. Additionally, the legislation proposes new daily overtime rules, requiring time-and-a-half pay for workdays exceeding eight hours and double pay for workdays exceeding 12 hours.