Short answer: Hourly Dollar Tree associates earn overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for every hour over 40 in a single workweek. That’s federal law under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Because Dollar Tree pays every two weeks, each week on your check is counted separately; the two weeks can’t be averaged together.
Overtime questions come up a lot around the holidays, when stores need extra hours. Here’s how it works and how to make sure you’re paid correctly.
The basic federal rule
The U.S. Department of Labor sets the federal overtime rule for hourly (non-exempt) workers:
- Overtime starts after 40 hours worked in a workweek.
- Overtime pay is at least 1.5 times your regular rate of pay.
- A workweek is a fixed, repeating period of seven consecutive days. It doesn’t have to start on Sunday, but it stays the same each week.
Federal law doesn’t require overtime just for working a weekend, a holiday or a long day. It’s about weekly hours. Some states add more, which we cover below.
Why your two weeks aren’t averaged
This is the part that trips people up on a biweekly paycheck. Each workweek stands alone.
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Total | Overtime owed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example A | 40 hours | 40 hours | 80 | 0 hours |
| Example B | 46 hours | 34 hours | 80 | 6 hours (week 1) |
| Example C | 44 hours | 42 hours | 86 | 6 hours (4 + 2) |
In Example B the total is a normal 80 hours, but week 1 went 6 hours over 40, so those 6 hours are overtime. A store can’t cancel that out with a shorter week 2.
How to work out your overtime pay
- Find your regular hourly rate. Say it’s $13.00.
- Multiply by 1.5 to get the overtime rate: $19.50.
- Multiply by the overtime hours: 6 × $19.50 = $117.00.
Your paystub should show overtime as its own line with hours and rate. See how to read your Dollar Tree paystub.
State rules can add more
Some states go further than federal law. California is the best-known example: it requires overtime after 8 hours in a single workday, and double time after 12 hours in a day, as well as the weekly rule. A few other states have their own daily or weekly rules. When state and federal rules differ, you get whichever is better for you.
Check your state’s labor department website if you work long single days.
Things that are true under federal law
- Unapproved overtime still has to be paid. If you worked the hours, they count, even if a manager didn’t approve them in advance. The store can address it as a policy issue, but not by withholding pay.
- Private employers can’t give “comp time” instead of overtime pay. Time off later isn’t a substitute for overtime wages at a private company like Dollar Tree.
- Off-the-clock work counts. Work done before clocking in or after clocking out is still work time. Always clock in before you start.
If your overtime looks wrong
- Write down your hours for each week of the pay period, using your schedule in Compass and your own notes.
- Compare each week to 40 hours, not the two-week total.
- Talk to your store manager with the specific week and hours.
- If it isn’t fixed on the next check, contact Dollar Tree payroll through a Workday case.
- For a dispute that isn’t resolved, your state labor department or the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division can help.
Quick answers
Does Dollar Tree pay overtime?
Yes. Hourly associates get 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek, as federal law requires.
Is Dollar Tree overtime calculated per pay period?
No. It’s calculated per workweek, even though you’re paid every two weeks.
Do I get overtime for working on a holiday?
Not under federal law by itself. Overtime is based on weekly hours. Any holiday pay would be a company policy, so check your paystub or ask HR.
Can my manager refuse to pay overtime I worked?
No. Under federal law, hours you actually worked must be paid, including overtime, even if the overtime wasn’t approved in advance.
Dollar-TreeCompass.net is an independent guide and is not affiliated with Dollar Tree, Inc. Your paystub, Workday and Dollar Tree HR are the final word on your own pay and records.
