According to the FLSA, what is the total number of hours considered to be a workweek?

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), a workweek is defined as a fixed and regularly recurring period of 168 hours, which equals seven consecutive 24-hour periods. This total includes all hours worked by the employee within that timeframe.

The concept of a workweek is significant because it establishes the foundation for determining overtime pay. Under the FLSA, employees must be compensated at an overtime rate for any hours worked beyond 40 in a single workweek. However, the definition of a workweek itself spans a full week, from Sunday to Saturday or any other continuous set of seven days.

Understanding this definition is crucial for compliance with FLSA regulations, especially for employers in managing work hours and calculating overtime correctly.