California · Overtime · Updated April 2026

Past 12 hours, the rate jumps to . Same on the 7th day.

California is the only state with broad statutory double-time. After 12 hours in a single workday, the rate doubles. After 8 hours on the 7th consecutive workday in a workweek, the rate also doubles. Both triggers operate independently of weekly totals.

Daily DT Threshold
12 hours
7th Day DT
After 8 hrs
Authority
Cal. Lab. Code § 510
Active

Double Time (12-Hour and 7th Day)

Calculates 2× pay for hours past 12 in a workday and past 8 on the 7th consecutive workday. Trigger detection is automatic on every shift.

Critical · approval required past 12 hrs/day
Tag DT hours separately from regular OT
Always running

What the rule does at hour 12 and at the 7th consecutive workday.

The hero card configuration: Critical on shifts past 12 hours, Flag on DT timesheet entries. Here's what each does at runtime.

Critical · on shift past 12 hrs

When a worker is on track to exceed 12 hours in a single workday (or 8 on a 7th consecutive day), Teambridge surfaces a Critical alert in the manager app — required approval before continuing. The DT cost is shown.

Flag · DT hours tagged distinctly

On the timesheet, hours past 12 in a day or past 8 on a 7th day tag as "double time" — distinct from regular 1.5× OT. The wage statement separates these for compliance with Labor Code § 226.

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The rule, plainly stated

Two triggers. Same 2× rate.

California's double-time rule has two distinct triggers — daily 12-hour and 7th-consecutive-day. Both produce 2× the regular rate.

Cal. Labor Code § 510(a): Any work in excess of 12 hours in one day and any work in excess of eight hours on any seventh day of a workweek shall be compensated at the rate of no less than twice the regular rate of pay of an employee.

12-hour daily trigger

After 12 hours in a single workday, the rate jumps to 2×. Hours 1-8 are at regular rate. Hours 9-12 are at 1.5× (regular OT). Hours 13+ are at 2×. A worker logging a 14-hour shift earns 8 hours regular + 4 hours OT + 2 hours DT.

7th-consecutive-day trigger

When a worker works 7 consecutive days within a single workweek, the 7th day is paid at 1.5× for hours 1-8 and 2× for hours past 8. The workweek must remain fixed (Sunday-Saturday or whatever the employer designates). Working 7 days that span two workweeks does NOT trigger this rule.

On autopilot

Teambridge tags DT hours distinctly — and surfaces them before they happen.

Double time is the most expensive payroll category in California. Teambridge surfaces the trigger early and logs it for audit defense.

01 · 12-hour projection

Cost surfaced at hour 11.

When a worker is in their 11th hour and a 12+ hour shift looks likely, the manager app surfaces a 'DT incoming' alert. The choice — extend or relieve — is informed by the cost differential.

02 · 7th-day detection

Workweek tracking automatic.

Teambridge tracks consecutive workdays per worker per workweek. When a 7th day is scheduled (or worked), the 7th-day rule applies automatically. The fixed workweek is configured per location.

03 · Payroll separation

DT hours on separate pay-stub line.

Wage statements separate DT hours from OT hours from regular hours, complying with Labor Code § 226 itemization requirements.

04 · Audit defense

Trigger logged with calculation.

Every DT hour logged with which trigger fired (12-hour daily, 7th-day past 8) and the underlying calculation. Defensible against PAGA and class-action audits.

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FAQ

People also ask.

When does California require double time?
After 12 hours in a single workday, AND after 8 hours on the 7th consecutive workday in a workweek. Both triggers produce 2× the regular rate.
How does the 7th consecutive day rule work?
When a worker works 7 consecutive days within a single workweek, the 7th day pays 1.5× for hours 1-8 and 2× for hours past 8. The workweek must remain fixed; spanning two workweeks does not trigger the rule.
Can I avoid the 7th-day trigger by changing the workweek?
No. California prohibits employers from changing workweek boundaries to evade overtime obligations. Workweek changes that look like evasion are challenged successfully.
What if a shift crosses the 12-hour mark mid-shift?
Hours 1-8 regular, hours 9-12 at 1.5×, hours 13+ at 2×. A 14-hour shift earns 8 regular + 4 OT + 2 DT. Teambridge tags each tier automatically based on the timestamp.
Does double-time apply to alternative workweek schedules?
Properly adopted AWS schedules can shift the daily OT threshold (e.g., to 10 hours/day for some industries). However, the 12-hour DT threshold and the 7th-day rule still apply. AWS adoption requires a 2/3 vote of affected workers.
How does Teambridge handle this?
Workweek boundaries and consecutive-day tracking are automatic per worker per location. When a worker is approaching either DT trigger, the manager app surfaces the projection before the trigger fires.