Colorado overtime & meal break laws

Colorado rules at a glance

What this means day to day

• OT 1.5× over 40h/week, 12h/day, or 12 consecutive hours — pay greatest
• 30-min meal after 5h; 10-min paid rest per 4h

Every one of these is enforced automatically in ClockAll when you set a location to Colorado — the overtime is calculated, missed breaks are flagged on the timecard the same day, and records are kept for 6 years.

Frequently asked questions

When does overtime start in Colorado?

Hourly employees in Colorado earn time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek and time and a half after 12 hours in a day.

How long can an employee work in Colorado before a meal break?

After 5 hours, an employee is entitled to a 30-minute unpaid meal break.

Are rest breaks paid in Colorado?

Yes. 10-min paid rest per 4 hours worked — rest breaks are counted as hours worked and must be paid. Meal breaks are unpaid only when the employee is fully relieved of duty; if they eat at their post, the time is working time.

How long do employers in Colorado have to keep time records?

Colorado requires 3 years. Federal law (the FLSA) requires three. Because the requirement differs by state and a claim can be filed years later, ClockAll keeps 6 years for everyone — the longest any state asks for.

Can an employer round time clock punches in Colorado?

Rounding is allowed only if it is neutral — it has to be as likely to round in the employee’s favour as the employer’s, over time. Rounding that consistently shaves minutes is unpaid wages. The safest position, and what ClockAll records, is the actual punch time to the minute.