Do Part-Time Employees Ever Get Overtime?
October 23, 2026
Yes — a part-time employee is entitled to overtime pay under the exact same FLSA 40-hour weekly threshold as a full-time employee, if their actual hours in a given workweek happen to exceed 40 — overtime is about actual hours worked in a week, not an employee's general full-time or part-time employment status.
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An employee classified as part-time (perhaps normally scheduled for 20-25 hours/week) could still work over 40 hours in a specific week due to covering extra shifts or a temporary schedule change — if that happens, overtime applies for that week exactly as it would for anyone else, regardless of the employee's general part-time classification.
The Key Clarification
"Part-time" and "full-time" are general employment status labels, not FLSA-defined categories that affect overtime eligibility — the only thing that matters for overtime is actual hours worked in a specific workweek compared to the 40-hour threshold, combined with the employee's exempt/non-exempt classification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a part-time employee get overtime pay?
Yes — if their actual hours in a given workweek exceed 40, the same overtime rules apply regardless of their general part-time status.
Does FLSA define 'part-time' differently for overtime purposes?
No — part-time and full-time are general employment labels, not FLSA-defined categories that change overtime eligibility.
What actually determines overtime eligibility?
Actual hours worked in a specific workweek compared to the 40-hour threshold, combined with exempt/non-exempt classification.
Could a normally part-time employee ever exceed 40 hours in a week?
Yes — covering extra shifts or a temporary schedule change could push a part-time employee's hours over 40 in a specific week.