# Is forced overtime legal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 15, 2006, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-forced-overtime-legal/348406 "2006-03-15T02:47:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-forced-overtime-legal/348406/1 "2006-03-15T02:47:51Z")
So, I live in New Mexico and for some reason or another, I had it in my head that an employer cannot force a non-exempt employee to work mandatory overtime. I tried googling, but I get nothing but advertisements. Can anyone fight my ignorance, please? ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-forced-overtime-legal/348406/2 "2006-03-15T03:14:13Z")
Nevermind. I found the answers I need. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-forced-overtime-legal/348406/3 "2006-03-15T03:39:12Z")
So? Is it illegal in NM? ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-forced-overtime-legal/348406/4 "2006-03-15T15:53:46Z")
Even if it’s illegal, I’d imagine that in most states, the employer could just fire you for “another reason.” Don’t want to work paid overtime? Find another job. (Not that I like overtime, paid or not, though the money is good, and I’ve accepted that it’s part of life as an IT guy. I’m a contractor, so I do get paid for overtime) I’m sure there are exceptions for things like medical workers and the like… I know in MA my sister is often forced to work an additional shift, if others call in sick/late. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-forced-overtime-legal/348406/5 "2006-03-15T16:30:08Z")
> [@FilmGeek](#): > > So? Is it illegal in NM? General rule: No, except very long hours or workers in certain industries. > **[How Overtime Pay is Calculated](https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-overtime-pay-is-calculated-2063430)** > > How overtime pay is calculated, include which employees are eligible for overtime, double time, when overtime is paid and how much you can expect to receive. [http://www.modrall.com/articles/article\_104.html](http://www.modrall.com/articles/article_104.html) Exceptions: 1. Male employees at eating establishments: > [@](#): > > Any person or persons, firm, association or corporation, owning any hotel, restaurant, cafe or eating house within this state, shall not be allowed to cause any male employee therein to labor more than ten hours in any twenty-four hours of any one day, nor more than seventy hours in any one week of seven days. > > The hours of labor may be so arraigned [arranged] so as to permit the employment of any male employee so engaged at any time so that they shall not work more than ten hours in any twenty-four hours of any one day, nor more than seventy hours in any one week of seven days. [http://www.conwaygreene.com/nmsu/lpext.dll/Infobase1/99a/13019/13066/13091?f=templates&fn=document-frame.htm&2.0#JD\_50-4-13](http://www.conwaygreene.com/nmsu/lpext.dll/Infobase1/99a/13019/13066/13091?f=templates&fn=document-frame.htm&2.0#JD_50-4-13) 1. 16 hour max unless you are “a fireman, law enforcement officer or farm or ranch hand whose duties require them to work longer hours, or employees primarily in a stand-by position.” [http://www.conwaygreene.com/nmsu/lpext.dll/Infobase1/99a/13019/13066/130e5?f=templates&fn=document-frame.htm&2.0#JD\_50-4-30](http://www.conwaygreene.com/nmsu/lpext.dll/Infobase1/99a/13019/13066/130e5?f=templates&fn=document-frame.htm&2.0#JD_50-4-30) 2. In a food service emergency :eek: apparently men who work at food establishments can be required to work more than 10 hours as long as they don’t have to work more than 74 hours in one week. If they work more than 70 hours, they get time-and-a-half. [http://www.conwaygreene.com/nmsu/lpext.dll/Infobase1/99a/13019/13066/13094?f=templates&fn=document-frame.htm&2.0#JD\_50-4-14](http://www.conwaygreene.com/nmsu/lpext.dll/Infobase1/99a/13019/13066/13094?f=templates&fn=document-frame.htm&2.0#JD_50-4-14) ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-forced-overtime-legal/348406/6 "2006-03-21T06:10:23Z")
Sorry for abandoning my post without clarification. I spoke with a paralegal friend of mine who has experience in this matter and she informed me that it’s is only illegal if they do not compensate extra for the overtime. Now I’m going to peruse those links that **GFactor** was kind enough to find for me. Thanks for the responses folks.