THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA LABOR LAW GUIDE:

What You Need To Know

Discover your rights and protections regarding wages, overtime, and employee classification. If you've faced unpaid overtime or workplace violations, contact Josephson Dunlap for expert representation and guidance.

Unravel the complexities of labor regulations and ensure fair treatment in your workplace.

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District of Columbia State Flag

$17.00

District of Columbia Minimum Wage Laws

In the District of Columbia, the current minimum wage is $17/hour. For tipped employees, the minimum cash wage is $2.23/hour, with the expectation that tips will make up the difference to at least $17/hour. If the combined cash wage and tips do not equal the standard minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference.

None

Meal & Breaks

Since DC doesn’t mandate meals and breaks, federal rules apply. Employers must pay for short breaks offered (usually up to 20 minutes).

2 Years

Filing Claims

District of Columbia’s Statute of Limitations for overtime claims aligns with the Fair Labor Standards Act, requiring lawsuits for unpaid back overtime wages to be filed within two years of the employer’s violation. This means that a lawsuit filed today can only seek back overtime pay for the previous 2 (or sometimes 3) years.

1.5x

District of Columbia's Overtime Laws

The FLSA mandates employers to pay overtime at one and a half times the regular rate for hours exceeding 40 per week unless the employee is exempt. Additionally, some employees (e.g., some salaried workers) are exempt from overtime.

Yes

Breastfeeding Mothers Break Laws

Employees must be given reasonable paid or unpaid break time to express breast milk as needed, and this break time can coincide with other breaks already provided to the employee.