Must employers give workers a weekly day of rest?
The answer largely depends on the state where you conduct business.
Some states limit the number of consecutive days employees may be allowed to work. Other laws and regulations, both state and federal, limit the number of hours specific types of employees may work without rest. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires an overtime premium for extra hours worked by nonexempt employees, but it does not limit the amount of work that may be required or accepted.
About a third of the states prescribe a weekly day of rest for many employees. Some of the larger states are among them. A few of the laws relate only to retail workers. Some allow employees to work a seventh day if they wish; others do not, except in emergencies.
Federal laws and regulations prescribe rest periods and days off for certain transportation-related industries: trucking, airline, railroad and merchant marine. Many states have similar standards for in-state transportation, public-safety work and dangerous jobs, such as mining or mill work. In addition, several states have placed limits on mandatory overtime for nurses.