The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) mandates that certain employees are paid overtime when they work over 40 hours in a week. This guide will assist employees in determining if they are entitled to overtime, as well as employers trying to determine if they are required by law to pay an employee overtime. The FLSA prescribes stiff penalties for employers who fail to comply with the requirements of the Act and allows very large recoveries to employees who have been deprived of overtime.