Arkansas Wage and Hour Law

Wage Payment Law in Arkansas

Terminated employees must receive their final wages within 7 days of the termination, upon demand. In all other situations, the worker must receive their wages on the next payday.

Breaks and Meal Periods

Breaks lasting less than 20 minutes must be compensated. Employers are not required, by either federal or Arkansas wage and hour law, to give meal or rest breaks to their employees.

Direct Deposit and Arkansas Employers

Arkansas employers have the right to refuse the direct deposit payment method. Employers do not have the authority to require their workers to use this payment method. Employees can decline the use of direct deposit by providing a written, signed letter stating that they do not wish to use direct deposit.

Overtime Law in AR

Most Arkansas workers are entitled to time-and-a-half pay (1.5 times the worker's regular rate) when working more than 40 hours in a workweek. However, some Arkansas workers may be exempt from overtime pay. To learn more about overtime compensation in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Department of Labor website at http://www.arkansas.gov/labor/laws_regs/minimum-wage_overtime.html.

Arkansas Minimum Wage Law

The Arkansas minimum wage rests at $6.25 per hour, effective Oct. 1, 2009. Minimum wage law in Arkansas applies to employers with four or more workers. The Arkansas minimum wage is $1.00 beneath the federal rate. Tipped employees may pe paid $2.63 per hour, as long as the direct wage plus tips equals at least the minimum wage.

For more information, view the Arkansas Department of Labor Website