The Alternative-Workweek: Oasis Or Mirage?

California employers are acutely aware of the typical schedule worked by employees: eight hours a day, five days a week. As we have become accustomed to doing, California law generally requires employers to pay employees overtime wages for hours worked in excess of eight hours during any 24-hour period. But in many cases, limiting employees to working only eight hours a day is not the most convenient for either the employee or the Company. End of the story? Not so fast.

California law provides a respite that allows employees to waive ordinary overtime requirements for less restrictive requirements when an employer properly adopts an alternative-workweek schedule. As with most areas of the California Labor Code, success is in the details. Failure to follow those details can result in catastrophic results for your company despite an employee's agreement, or even actual request, to work such an alternative-workweek schedule.