How many hours must an employee work for their time to qualify for overtime pay?

The correct answer is that an employee must work 40 hours in a workweek for their time to qualify for overtime pay. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in the United States, any hours worked over 40 in a single workweek are eligible for overtime compensation, which is typically calculated at a rate of one and a half times the employee's regular hourly wage. This 40-hour threshold is the established standard for determining eligibility for overtime pay, reflecting the principle that beyond this number of hours, employees may need extra financial compensation for their additional time and effort.

The other options—30 hours, 48 hours, and 50 hours—do not align with this standard. Working 30 hours does not meet the threshold of 40 hours, and hours in excess of 40 are what trigger overtime pay. While some positions may have different arrangements regarding hours or overtime, the 40-hour guideline is the basis for most employees under federal law.