Security Guard Overtime

What Is Security Guard Overtime?

Security guard overtime refers to the premium pay requirements for security personnel in California. Unlike some industries with special exemptions, security guards are generally entitled to full California overtime protections, including both daily and weekly overtime at time-and-a-half, and double-time for extended shifts.

Security work presents unique scheduling challenges due to 24/7 coverage requirements, long shifts, and the need for consistent staffing. Understanding overtime rules is essential for security companies and businesses that employ security personnel.

Who Is Classified as a Security Guard?

Covered Positions

California's security guard overtime rules apply to:

Position	Description
Security officer	Uniformed guards at commercial/residential properties
Patrol officer	Mobile patrol of multiple locations
Access control officer	Badge/ID verification at entrances
Reception security	Security-focused front desk personnel
Alarm responder	Responds to alarm activations
Event security	Crowd control, venue security
Bodyguard/Executive protection	Personal protection services
Loss prevention associate	Retail theft prevention
Hospital security	Healthcare facility security

Licensing Requirements

Most security guards in California must be licensed through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS):

License Type	Purpose
Guard Card	Required for all security guards
Firearms Permit	If carrying a firearm on duty
Baton Permit	If carrying a baton on duty
Exposed Firearm Permit	For open carry on duty

California Overtime Rules for Security Guards

Security guards are non-exempt employees entitled to full California overtime protections.

Daily Overtime

Hours Worked in a Day	Rate
1-8 hours	Regular rate
8.01-12 hours	1.5× (time-and-a-half)
Over 12 hours	2× (double-time)

Weekly Overtime

Hours Worked in a Week	Rate
1-40 hours	Regular rate
Over 40 hours	1.5×

Seventh Day Rules

When a security guard works seven consecutive days in a workweek:

7th Day Hours	Rate
First 8 hours	1.5×
Over 8 hours	2×

Example: 12-Hour Shift Schedule

A security guard earning $20/hour works three 12-hour shifts:

Day	Hours	Regular	OT (1.5×)	DT (2×)
Mon	12	8	4	0
Wed	12	8	4	0
Fri	12	8	4	0
Total	36	24	12	0

Pay calculation:

• Regular: 24 hours × $20 = $480
• OT: 12 hours × $30 = $360
• Total: $840

Example: Extended Emergency Shift

A guard works a 16-hour shift due to emergency staffing:

Hours	Rate	Pay
1-8	$20.00	$160.00
9-12	$30.00 (1.5×)	$120.00
13-16	$40.00 (2×)	$160.00
Total		$440.00

Without California's daily overtime rules, this would be $320 (16 × $20).

Alternative Workweek Schedules for Security

Security employers can implement alternative workweek schedules to allow extended shifts without daily overtime.

The 4/10 Schedule

Four 10-hour days per week:

• No daily overtime for hours 1-10
• Overtime for hours over 10 in a day
• Overtime for hours over 40 in a week

Implementation Requirements

Step	Requirement
1	Written proposal to affected employees
2	Non-work meeting at least 14 days before vote
3	Secret ballot election
4	Two-thirds approval by affected work unit
5	Report results to DLSE within 30 days
6	Wait 30 days after DLSE filing before implementation

Restrictions

Alternative workweek schedules must not exceed:

• 10 hours per day (for most security positions)
• 40 hours per week at regular rate

Work beyond the alternative schedule still triggers overtime.

Meal and Rest Breaks for Security Guards

Security guards are entitled to meal and rest breaks under California law.

Rest Breaks

Hours Worked	Paid Rest Breaks
0-3.5 hours	None required
3.5-6 hours	One 10-minute break
6-10 hours	Two 10-minute breaks
10-14 hours	Three 10-minute breaks

Meal Breaks

Hours Worked	Unpaid Meal Breaks
0-5 hours	None required
5-10 hours	One 30-minute break (by 5th hour)
Over 10 hours	Second 30-minute break (by 10th hour)

On-Duty Meal Periods

Security guards may agree to on-duty meal periods when:

• The nature of the work prevents relief from all duties
• Written agreement exists between guard and employer
• The guard can revoke the agreement
• The meal period is paid

Common in security: Solo guards at posts where relief coverage isn't available may take on-duty meals.

Break Penalties

For each missed break:

Violation	Penalty
Missed rest break	1 hour of pay at regular rate
Missed meal break	1 hour of pay at regular rate
Maximum per day	2 hours additional pay (one each)

Common Compliance Issues in Security

Issue 1: Unauthorized Overtime

Problem: Guards work past their scheduled shift (waiting for relief, finishing reports) without authorization.

Legal Reality:

• Must pay for all hours worked
• "Suffered or permitted to work" standard applies
• Can discipline for policy violations, but must still pay

Solution:

• Clear overtime authorization policy
• Require approval before extending shifts
• Monitor time records for unauthorized OT
• Address scheduling gaps proactively

Issue 2: Shift Extensions and Call-Backs

Problem: Calling guards back for additional shifts pushes hours into overtime territory.

Legal Reality:

• All hours in the same workday count together
• Weekly hours cumulate across multiple shifts
• Double-time applies after 12 hours in a workday

Solution:

• Track cumulative hours before assigning extra shifts
• Calculate overtime cost before approving extensions
• Use float/on-call staff to minimize OT exposure

Issue 3: Travel Time Between Posts

Problem: Not paying for travel time between multiple posts during a shift.

Legal Reality:

• Travel between work locations during the workday is compensable
• Only normal commute (home to first post, last post to home) is not paid
• Travel time counts toward overtime thresholds

Example:

• Guard works 4 hours at Site A
• Drives 30 minutes to Site B
• Works 4 hours at Site B
• Total hours: 8.5 (triggers 30 minutes of overtime)

Issue 4: Unpaid Training and Certification

Problem: Requiring guards to complete training on their own time.

Legal Reality:

• Mandatory training is compensable work time
• Includes initial training and ongoing certifications
• Time attending training counts toward daily/weekly overtime

Solution:

• Schedule training during regular work hours
• Pay for all required training time
• Track training hours in time records

Issue 5: Improper Salary Classification

Problem: Paying security guards a flat salary regardless of hours worked.

Legal Reality:

• Security guards are generally non-exempt
• Cannot avoid overtime by paying salary
• Must track hours and pay overtime above thresholds

Exceptions (limited):

• Some managers may qualify for executive exemption
• Must meet salary AND duties tests

Calculating Overtime for Variable Schedules

Security work often involves varying schedules. Here's how to handle complex calculations.

Multiple Pay Rates

If a guard works at different rates:

Example:

• Site A: $20/hour (32 hours)
• Site B: $22/hour (16 hours)
• Total: 48 hours (8 hours overtime)

Calculation:

1. Total regular earnings: (32 × $20) + (16 × $22) = $992
2. Regular rate: $992 ÷ 48 hours = $20.67
3. Overtime premium: 8 hours × ($20.67 × 0.5) = $82.68
4. Total pay: $992 + $82.68 = $1,074.68

Shift Differentials

Night shift or weekend premiums affect overtime calculations:

Example:

• Day shift: $18/hour (24 hours)
• Night shift: $20/hour ($18 + $2 differential) (20 hours)
• Total: 44 hours

Calculation:

1. Total earnings: (24 × $18) + (20 × $20) = $832
2. Regular rate: $832 ÷ 44 = $18.91
3. Overtime: 4 hours × ($18.91 × 0.5) = $37.82
4. Total: $832 + $37.82 = $869.82

Bonus Payments

Non-discretionary bonuses must be included in regular rate:

Example:

• Guard earns $19/hour, works 44 hours
• Receives $100 attendance bonus

Calculation:

1. Base pay: 44 × $19 = $836
2. Regular rate: ($836 + $100) ÷ 44 = $21.27
3. Additional OT premium: 4 × ($21.27 × 0.5 - $9.50) = $4.54
4. Total: $836 + (4 × $9.50) + $100 + $4.54 = $978.54

Technology for Security Overtime Management

Modern workforce management systems help security companies:

Time and Attendance

• GPS-enabled clock-in/out at post locations
• Geofencing to verify guard presence
• Mobile apps for remote time tracking
• Biometric verification to prevent buddy punching

Scheduling Optimization

• Overtime forecasting before schedules are published
• Automatic alerts when guards approach OT thresholds
• Open shift distribution to spread hours evenly
• Compliance rules engine to prevent scheduling violations

Payroll Integration

• Automatic overtime calculation including complex scenarios
• Multiple rate handling for different sites/shifts
• Premium pay automation for differentials
• Audit trails for compliance documentation

Industry-Specific Considerations

Healthcare Security

Hospital security guards may work extended shifts:

• Subject to standard California overtime (not healthcare worker exceptions)
• May face emergency extension requirements
• Must still receive meal and rest breaks

Event Security

Temporary event staffing considerations:

• Daily overtime applies even for single events
• Multiple events same day = same workday
• Need accurate time tracking at venues

Contract Security Companies

When staffing guards at client sites:

• The security company is the employer of record
• Must track hours across all client sites
• Client billing doesn't affect overtime obligations

Penalties for Overtime Violations

Violation Type	Penalty
Unpaid overtime	Back pay owed
Liquidated damages	Equal to unpaid wages
Interest	10% per year
Waiting time penalty	Up to 30 days' wages (at termination)
PAGA penalties	$100-$200 per pay period
Wage statement violations	$50-$4,000 per employee
Attorney fees	If employee prevails

Compliance Checklist

Scheduling

• Define workweek start day/time
• Track daily hours for each guard
• Monitor weekly cumulative hours
• Get pre-approval for overtime shifts
• Consider alternative workweek if appropriate

Timekeeping

• Record actual start and end times
• Include travel time between posts
• Track meal break start/end times
• Document any on-duty meal agreements
• Capture training and certification time

Payroll

• Calculate daily overtime first
• Then calculate weekly overtime
• Include all compensation in regular rate
• Pay overtime on correct dates
• Provide compliant wage statements

Documentation

• Maintain time records for 4+ years
• Keep alternative workweek election records
• Document on-duty meal agreements
• Track break penalty payments

Proper overtime management for security guards requires attention to California's daily overtime rules, accurate time tracking across multiple posts and shifts, and clear policies for overtime authorization.