Do I have to work overtime in California?

In short, the answer is yes, your employer may require that you work overtime. Each state deals with mandatory overtime in its own way, but the federal guidelines from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) do state that it is allowed. The employer must pay no less than 1.5 times the regular rate of pay. There are no limits to the number of hours an employee over the age of 16 can work in one week.