Kentucky Wage and Hour Law

Minimum Wage in Kentucky

The Kentucky minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, effective July 1, 2009.

Overtime Law in Kentucky

Kentucky overtime law states that employees must be paid 1.5 times their regular rate for hours worked in excess of 40 during a single workweek. However, certain exemptions, which are based on pay and job duties, may exclude certain workers from this overtime requirement. Additionally, employers who allow any worker to work 7 days in a single workweek must provide overtime pay for hours worked on the seventh day. Again, certain exceptions exist. For more information on Kentucky overtime law, visit the website of the Kentucky Labor Cabinet.

Payment of Wages

Kentucky employers must pay to each of its workers all wages earned to a day no more than eighteen days prior to the payment date. Any employee who is absent at the time fixed for payment, or is not paid at that time, must be paid at any time upon six days' demand. No employer subject to this section shall, by any means, secure exemption from it. Employees have a right to receive their full amount of wages due on each scheduled pay day.

Final Wages

Employees who quit or are fired must be paid all wages due by the next payday or within 14 days of the separation, which occurs last. No employer can be exempt from this provision.

Meal and Rest Breaks

Worker must receive a paid 10-minute rest period for every four hours worked (excluding those covered by the Federal Railway Labor Act.) This is in addition to the regularly scheduled lunch period.

Employees should receive a reasonable break for lunch toward the middle of their shift. In no case can a worker be required to take a lunch period sooner than three hours after the shift begins, nor more than five (5) hours from the time the work shift commences. This provision can be negotiated between the worker and employee through a collective bargaining agreement or employer-employee agreement.

Employer Recordkeeping Requirements

Employers covered by the Kentucky minimum wage law must keep records for each employee with the following information: name; address; hours worked per day; hours worked per week; rate of pay; overtime pay rate; additions or deductions; total wages paid; and date of payment.

Employers must keep these records for a minimum of one year. These records must be easily accessible, for inspection purposes. No specific form or order is required for these records.

For more information, view the Kentucky Department of Labor Website