breaks and overtime

If you work in Washington State, you have several key rights around breaks and overtime:

• You get a 10 minute paid rest break for every 4 hours you work in a day. This is required by law and can't be waived or substituted by a meal break.
• You also have the right to take a 30 minute unpaid meal period if you work more than 5 hours in a day. You may choose to skip this break, but your employer must give you the option to take it.
• You also have the right to overtime pay when you work more than 40 hours in one week for the same employer.

can my manager make me clock out and keep working?

You have to be paid for all the time you work. If your manager says that closing procedures have to be finished by 11pm you need to keep working, but you DON'T have to clock out. The manager can be upset about closing procedures taking longer than they thought, but the law says you have to be paid for all the time you work regardless.

can my manager choose to not pay me overtime?

You must be paid overtime when you work more than 40 hours in a week for the same employer. You have to be paid at least time and a half of your normal rate of pay. So, if you were paid $15/hr, any hours you work over 40 in a week with the same employer would be at an overtime rate of $22.50/hr.

how about if i'm not a citizen or i don't have a green card?

All employees who work in Washington are covered by this law, regardless of documentation status.