A construction company has three crews working different shifts. Crew A works 7 AM to 3 PM at $25/hour, Crew B works 3 PM to 11 PM at $27/hour (shift differential), and Crew C works 11 PM to 7 AM at $30/hour (night differential). If an employee from Crew A works 50 hours in one week (40 regular + 10 overtime), what is their gross pay?
Correct Answer
B) $1,375
Regular pay: 40 hours × $25 = $1,000. Overtime pay: 10 hours × $37.50 (time and a half: $25 × 1.5) = $375. Total gross pay: $1,000 + $375 = $1,375.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Option B correctly applies federal overtime law requiring time-and-a-half pay for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. The calculation properly separates regular hours (40 × $25 = $1,000) from overtime hours (10 × $37.50 = $375). The overtime rate of $37.50 is correctly calculated as 1.5 times the regular rate of $25. The total gross pay of $1,375 represents the sum of regular and overtime compensation.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option C: $1,500
This answer significantly overestimates the gross pay, possibly by applying incorrect overtime multipliers or adding unauthorized premiums beyond the standard time-and-a-half requirement.
Option D: $1,625
This answer only calculates straight time for all 50 hours (50 × $25 = $1,250) without applying the required overtime premium for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek.
Memory Technique
Remember 'Time and a HALF' - multiply base rate by 1.5 for overtime, not 2.0 (double-time). Think '40 and 1.5' - 40 regular hours, then 1.5x rate for anything over.
Reference Hint
Florida Building Code Chapter 1, Section 105 - Construction Administration and Fair Labor Standards Act provisions regarding overtime compensation
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