How Many Hours Can I Work? (2024)

FAQs

How do you answer how many hours can you work? ›

If you want to achieve the perfect blend of productivity, happiness, and time affluence, a more realistic goal is to work slightly below 40 hours per week. The research shows that even shaving an hour or two off of the standard 40-hour workweek can have huge benefits, both at work and at home.

For adult employees, there is no legal limit to the number of hours that one can work per week, but the Fair Labor Standards Act dictates standards for overtime pay in both the private and public sector.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says that a normal work shift is no more than 8 consecutive hours in a day, with each shift split by at least 8 hours of rest. A normal workweek is 5 such work days. However, this is not binding. OSHA does not penalize employers who demand more.

“Research indicates that five hours is about the maximum that most of us can concentrate hard on something,” says Alex Pang, founder of Silicon Valley consultancy Strategy and Rest and author of several books examining the links between shorter working hours and productivity.

On the other hand, working 10-hour shifts on a regular basis has some pitfalls. As the Occupational Safety and Health Administration explains, those longer working days and hours can lead to: Worker Fatigue. Increased Levels Of Stress.

Henry Ford became one of the first employers to adopt a five-day, 40-hour week at his Ford Motor Company plants in 1926.

There is no limit in the Act on the number of hours employees aged 16 and older may work in any workweek. The FLSA does not require overtime pay for work on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, or regular days of rest, unless overtime is worked on such days.

There is no minimum shift requirement or minimum hour requirement for part-time or full-time employees. The 4-hour rule refers to minimum compensation in certain circ*mstances. These include on-call or scheduled-to-work employees who receive inadequate notice that they do not have any work for their shift.

Are 12 hour shifts legal in the US? ›

Are 12 hour shift schedules legal? Yes, 12 hour shift schedules are legal. There are no federal or state law caps on the amount of hours an employee can work, which means employees can work up to 24 hours. However, there are restrictions around age, collective bargaining agreements, and regulated industries.

Anyway, if the company has asked this one or this is one of the questions in their job application form, they are asking how much time are you willing to commit in that job. Some would say 15–20 hours per week, while others 30 hours per week, for full time jobs it's usually 40–45 hours per week.

Just ask. If they're not prepared to tell you the working hours and whether you're expected to work overtime then perhaps this isn't the firm for you. Just as there are many ways to ask that sound negative, there are many ways to ask positively. However, while it is much more difficult, it is important that you ask.

Make your request

Talk to your manager about your desire for more hours. Emphasize your passion for your job, and share your potential solutions. Explain that you feel receiving more responsibilities and hours may allow you to help the company achieve success.

“Yes, I have no problem with working overtime because in my opinion growth of the establishment is equal to the growth of an individual”. If they are comfortable with working on weekends, then saying “I am fine with working on weekends if the organisation wants me to do so” might be the right way to respond.