Kentucky Overtime Laws & Wages Attorney

Table of contents:

1. Minimum Wage
2. Overtime Pay
3. Statute of Limitations
4. Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding Kentucky Overtime and Labor Laws

When state laws differ from the federal wage laws, employers are required to follow the one which is most favorable to workers. If you believe that you have been deprived of the overtime pay that is legally yours, contact The Lore Law Firm today.

For more information, contact a Kentucky overtime laws & wages attorney or visit our comprehensive state labor laws guide.

Minimum Wage in Kentucky

Kentucky’s current minimum wage rate is $7.25 per hour.

Tipped Employees Employers may pay tipped employees (ones who customarily and regularly receive more than $30 per month in tips) a minimum of $2.13 per hour if the employer can show that the employee receives at least minimum wage when the employee’s tips are added to direct wages. Tipped employees must be allowed to retain all tips except for the purpose of withholding amounts required by federal or state law. Employees cannot be required to participate in a tip pool; however, employees may voluntarily agree to divide gratuities among themselves.

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Overtime Pay in Kentucky

Overtime pay of time and one-half must be paid for hours worked in excess of 40 hours in a workweek. Under Kentucky’s state wage and hour laws, overtime pay is not required for the following employees:

• Retail store employees who sale, purchase, or distribute merchandise or products
• Restaurant, hotel and motel employees
• Employees who are exempt from the FLSA under
• Motor Carrier Act Truck Drivers
• Seaman
• Car, truck, farm equipment salespeople
• Taxi cab drivers
• Home health care employees

Upon written request, city and county employees may be granted compensatory time (“comp time”) in lieu of overtime at a rate of not less than one and one-half (1-1/2) hours for each hour worked in excess of forty (40) hours in a work week.

Seventh Day Overtime Under Kentucky state labor laws, time and half pay is due to any employee who works 7 days in a workweek unless the employee works less than 40 hours during that workweek.

The following employees are not entitled to overtime under this regulation:

• Telephone carriers with less than 500 subscribers
• Assistants of doctors, lawyers, accountants and other professions licensed by the state
• Employees subject to the Federal Railway Labor Act
• Seamen and/or boat operators
• Employees who ice railroad cars
• Common carriers supervised by the Department of Vehicle Registration
• Officers and supervisors who primarily direct or supervise other employees.

Holidays

Additional pay is not required for working on holidays under Kentucky state law.

Vacation

Payment of accrued vacation pay at termination will depend on the employer’s policy or past practice. Kentucky state employment laws do not specifically require payment of unused vacation upon termination of employment.

Meal Breaks/Rest Periods

Lunch Periods:  Employers are required to give employees a reasonable period for lunch as close to the middle of their scheduled work shift as possible but no sooner than 3 hours or longer than 5 hours from when their shift starts.

Rest Periods:  Employees are entitled to a 10 minute paid rest break during each 4 hours worked.

Deductions

Kentucky labor laws allow the following deductions from an employee’s pay:

• Deductions that the employee has expressly agreed to in writing for insurance premiums, hospital, or medical dues
• Deductions authorized by local, state, or federal law
• Deductions agreed to through collective bargaining, a wage agreement, or statute
• Deductions for union dues when authorized by joint wage agreements or collective bargaining contracts

The following cannot be deducted from an employee’s pay:

• Fines
• Breakage
• Cash shortages if the register is used by 2 or more people
• Check losses if the employee is given the discretion to accept or reject any check
• Losses due to property damage, faulty workmanship, stolen property, and customer default unless these losses are due to the employee’s willful or intentional disregard of the employer’s interest.

Pay Periods

Kentucky state employment laws require employees be paid at least semi-monthly (twice a month). Final Wages Final wages must be paid on the next normal pay period or 14 days following the termination date whichever occurs last

Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations for bringing forward Kentucky labor law claims is five (5) years, so back wages can be recovered back to five years from the time of filing.