District of Columbia Labor Laws: An Employer's Overview

Overtime

District of Columbia follows the federal rule: time-and-a-half after 40 hours in a workweek, with no separate daily-overtime requirement.

Minimum Wage

District of Columbia sets a minimum wage above the federal $7.25 and updates it periodically — confirm the current figure before running payroll.

Breaks

District of Columbia has no general adult meal-break mandate, though offered short breaks must be paid.

Paid Sick Leave & Final Pay

District of Columbia mandates paid sick leave. Final-paycheck timing is state-specific — see the dedicated guides linked below for details, and always confirm against the official source.

District of Columbia Labor-Law Snapshot

A quick District of Columbia snapshot: the minimum wage is $18.40/hour (about $11.15 above the federal $7.25), overtime is about $27.60/hour, District of Columbia mandates paid sick leave (typically ~1 hour earned per 30 worked), and a final paycheck is due by the next business day on discharge.

For District of Columbia employers these rules interact with timekeeping: accurate, audit-logged hours drive overtime, sick-leave accrual, final pay, and break records. District of Columbia sets no statewide meal-break requirement and does not mandate paid rest breaks; a final paycheck is due by the next regular payday or within 7 days, whichever is sooner when an employee resigns. Confirm current District of Columbia figures with the state labor office before relying on any single number.

Official Sources

• U.S. DOL — Minimum wage by state
• U.S. DOL — State overtime
• U.S. DOL — State labor offices

More District of Columbia Guides

Labor Law Overview in Other States

District of Columbia Labor Law Overview: Frequently Asked Questions