Colorado COMPS Order: 12-Hour Daily Overtime Rules
Colorado compares weekly, daily, and 12-consecutive-hour overtime calculations. The worker is owed the calculation that produces the greater overtime pay.
M. Imtinan Farooq
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Colorado COMPS Order: 12-Hour Daily Overtime Rules — quick answer
Colorado compares weekly, daily, and 12-consecutive-hour overtime calculations. The worker is owed the calculation that produces the greater overtime pay.
Colorado overtime is not just a weekly 40-hour calculation. Under the Colorado COMPS Order, covered employees generally receive 1.5x overtime for work past 40 hours in a workweek, 12 hours in a workday, or 12 consecutive hours, whichever calculation produces greater pay.
That "greater of" rule is what makes Colorado different. You do not simply add daily and weekly overtime together; you compare the calculations and use the result that pays more.
For employers and employees auditing a Colorado timecard, mastering this comparison is the difference between a clean paycheck and a hidden underpayment.
Calculate Colorado overtime
Estimate daily overtime, weekly overtime, and the COMPS greater-of rule using the Colorado-specific calculator.
The Colorado Daily Overtime Triggers
Unlike standard states, Colorado evaluates overtime based on three distinct, competing triggers. Non-exempt employees must receive overtime pay (1.5× their regular rate of pay) for all hours worked past:
1. Weekly hours
Hours worked past 40 hours in a workweek.
2. Daily hours
Hours worked past 12 hours in a workday.
3. Consecutive hours
Hours worked past 12 consecutive hours, regardless of when the workday starts or ends.
The "Greater Of" Calculation Rule
To prevent duplicate counting, CDLE applies the greater of principle.
Under the COMPS Order, the payroll department calculates the total overtime hours triggered under the daily rule, the consecutive hours rule, and the weekly rule separately.
The Legal Standard:
The employee is owed whichever calculation results in the greatest overtime pay for that workweek. You do not add daily, consecutive, and weekly overtime together.
Worked Example: Auditing a Colorado Timecard
Let's analyze a weekly schedule for a Colorado warehouse technician named Alex, earning $20.00/hour:
- Monday: works 14 hours (triggers 2 daily OT hours).
- Tuesday: works 14 hours (triggers 2 daily OT hours).
- Wednesday: works 8 hours.
- Thursday: works 8 hours.
- Friday: works 4 hours.
- Total Weekly Hours Worked: `14 + 14 + 8 + 8 + 4 = 48` hours.
Alex's Overtime Audits:
- Calculation A (Weekly Rule): Alex worked 48 total hours. Overtime under weekly trigger = `48 - 40 = 8` overtime hours.
- Calculation B (Daily Rule): Alex worked two shifts of 14 hours. On each shift, he worked 2 hours past the 12-hour limit. Daily Overtime hours = `2 + 2 = 4` overtime hours.
- Applying the "Greater Of" Principle: Compare Calculation A (8 hours) and Calculation B (4 hours). Since 8 hours is greater, Alex is paid 8 hours of overtime and 40 hours of straight-time.
- Alex's Total Gross Weekly Pay:`40 hours × $20.00 = $800.00` (straight-time) plus `8 hours × $30.00 = $240.00` (overtime) = $1,040.00.
Ensure Colorado COMPS Compliance
If you are an employer or employee in Colorado, making sure your timekeeping and payroll engines are configured to calculate "greater of" daily and weekly splits is crucial to avoiding CDLE wage audits.
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Rule last reviewed: July 7, 2026Page last updated: July 8, 2026Official sources
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Estimates only; not legal, tax, or payroll advice. Confirm final pay obligations with the official agency guidance or a qualified advisor.
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