There are very few instances where overtime pay is not required federally or by state law. According to the California Department of Industrial Relations, “California law requires that employers pay overtime, whether authorized or not, at the rate of one and one-half times the employee’s regular rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of eight up to and including 12 hours in any workday, and for the first eight hours of work on the seventh consecutive day of work” If your overtime has gone unpaid as a negative action or otherwise, you may be entitled to compensation.