Tennessee Labor Laws: An Employer's Overview

Overtime

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

Minimum Wage

Tennessee uses the federal $7.25 floor for covered employers.

Breaks

Tennessee requires meal breaks for longer shifts.

Paid Sick Leave & Final Pay

Tennessee has no statewide paid sick leave mandate. Final-paycheck timing is state-specific — see the dedicated guides linked below for details, and always confirm against the official source.

Tennessee Labor-Law Snapshot

A quick Tennessee snapshot: the minimum wage is $7.25/hour (the federal floor), overtime is about $10.88/hour, Tennessee has no statewide paid-sick-leave mandate, and a final paycheck is due by the next regular payday or within 21 days, whichever is later on discharge.

For Tennessee employers these rules interact with timekeeping: accurate, audit-logged hours drive overtime, final pay, and break records. Tennessee requires meal breaks on longer shifts and does not mandate paid rest breaks; a final paycheck is due by the next regular payday or within 21 days, whichever is later when an employee resigns. Confirm current Tennessee 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 Tennessee Guides

Labor Law Overview in Other States

Tennessee Labor Law Overview: Frequently Asked Questions