Overtime Includes Commission!
Overtime For Commissioned Pay
Overtime is a fairly familiar concept to people, and so is the pay rate– one and one-half time for the first four hours, then for every hour after twelve, twice the pay rate. The math seams simple, and most people can do it in their heads without so much as a second thought. However, if you are paid by commission or by piece, what’s fair for overtime compensation may be a bit trickier to decipher. As an individual, there are two ways of determining what your base rate would be:
- The commission or piece rate is used as the regular rate, and your overtime pay is one and one-half of that for the first four hours, then double that rate after 12 hours worked in one shift. For example, if you make $20 for each hat you sell (or make), your base rate would be $20 if you sell one hat per hour.
So overtime for the first four hours would be $30 ($20 x 1.5), and every hour after twelve, $40 ($20 x 2).
Though this way isn’t always applicable to every situation, so the other method is:
- Divide the total earning for the workweek (overtime hours included) by the total hours of the workweek (including overtime). So say you make $10 an hour and work 45 hours with $200 worth of commission:
$10 (rate) x 45 (hours worked) + $200 (commission) = $650 (total earnings)
Then the $650 is divided by the hours worked:
$650(total weekly earnings) ÷ 45 (hours worked) = $14.45 (The rounded base rate)
So overtime for the first four hours would be $21.68 ($14.45 x 1.5), and every hour
after twelve, $28.90 ($14.45 x 2).
Almost all commissioned employees have mistakes made on their overtime hours and because most don’t even realize they are supposed to have ALL compensation included in the overtime rate, this usually goes unchecked. In some cases this could means years of unpaid overtime wages, add to that penalties and interest and the money you are owed can add up pretty quickly.
Your time is valuable, so make sure you are being compensated fairly for working overtime! Keep in mind that your weekly rate is variable according to the second method, so be sure each week you work overtime you are being paid adequately. If you find out your employer is not compensating you fairly for your work, you need to speak with an experienced labor attorney ASAP.
United Employees Law Group can help you understand if you qualify for overtime pay and if so, help you collect. We fight for employees everyday and you never pay anything unless we get a settlement in your case.
CALL UELG TODAY for confidential case review.
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