Washington overtime & meal break laws
What an employer in Washington has to do in 2026 — overtime, breaks, penalties and record-keeping, in plain English.
The short answer
In Washington, hourly employees earn time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek. After 5 hours, an employee is entitled to a 30-minute unpaid meal break.
Washington rules at a glance
What this means day to day
- Overtime 1.5× after 40 hours per week
- 30-min meal after 5h; 10-min paid rest per 4h (non-waivable)
Every one of these is enforced automatically in ClockAll when you set a location to Washington — 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 Washington?
Hourly employees in Washington earn time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek.
How long can an employee work in Washington before a meal break?
After 5 hours, an employee is entitled to a 30-minute unpaid meal break.
Are rest breaks paid in Washington?
Yes. 10-min paid rest per 4 hours, cannot be waived — 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 Washington have to keep time records?
Washington 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 Washington?
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.
Stay compliant in Washington without thinking about it
Set the location’s state once. ClockAll does the overtime math, flags missed breaks, and keeps the records.