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Oklahoma Labor Laws 2025

Oklahoma labor law largely follows federal standards with minimal state-specific employment requirements. The state follows the federal minimum wage, requires meal breaks for minors under 16, and has Right to Work protections enshrined in the state constitution.

Note: Oklahoma follows the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour. State minimum wage law applies to employers with 10+ full-time employees or $100,000+ annual gross sales.

Minimum Wage

Oklahoma follows the federal minimum wage with no state minimum wage law above federal levels.

Key Requirements

  • State minimum wage: $7.25 per hour (same as federal minimum)
  • Tipped employees: $2.13/hour cash wage (with tip credit to reach $7.25)
  • Applies to employers with 10 or more full-time employees or $100,000+ annual gross sales
  • Smaller employers not covered by state law but may be covered by federal FLSA
  • No scheduled increases beyond federal changes

Additional Resources

Overtime

Oklahoma follows federal overtime requirements under the FLSA with no additional state requirements.

Key Requirements

  • Overtime pay: 1.5x regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek
  • No daily overtime requirement (calculated weekly)
  • Standard FLSA exemptions apply (executive, administrative, professional)
  • No state-specific overtime laws beyond federal requirements
  • Workweek is seven consecutive 24-hour periods

Additional Resources

Meal and Rest Breaks

Oklahoma requires meal breaks for employees under 16 but not for adults.

Key Requirements

  • Minors under 16: Must receive breaks (30 minutes for 5-hour shift, 1 hour for 8-hour shift)
  • Adult employees: No state-mandated meal or rest break requirements
  • If breaks are voluntarily provided, federal rules apply
  • Short breaks (5-20 minutes) must be paid if provided
  • Nursing mothers have right to express milk (federal requirement)

Additional Resources

Payment of Wages

Oklahoma has specific requirements for wage payment frequency and timing.

Key Requirements

  • Employees must be paid at least semi-monthly (twice per month)
  • Payment must be made on regular paydays designated by employer
  • Final wages: Must be paid by next regular payday
  • Certain wage deductions require written authorization
  • Direct deposit allowed with employee written authorization

Additional Resources

Child Labor

Oklahoma has comprehensive restrictions on youth employment.

Key Requirements

  • Work permits required for minors under 16
  • Ages 14-15: Limited to 3 hours per school day, 18 hours per week during school
  • Ages 14-15: 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week when school not in session
  • Ages 16-17: No hour restrictions but hazardous occupation restrictions apply
  • Federal child labor laws also apply

Additional Resources

Right to Work

Oklahoma is a "Right to Work" state with constitutional protection.

Key Requirements

  • Employees cannot be required to join a union as a condition of employment
  • Employers cannot require union dues or fees as a condition of employment
  • Protected by Oklahoma Constitution Article 23, Section 1A
  • Does not prohibit unions or collective bargaining
  • Constitutional protection makes it difficult to overturn

Additional Resources

Employer Coverage Threshold

Oklahoma's minimum wage law has specific employer thresholds:

  • Applies to employers with 10 or more full-time employees at any one location
  • OR employers with annual gross sales over $100,000
  • Smaller employers not covered by state law may still be covered by federal FLSA

Break Requirements for Minors

Oklahoma requires specific break periods for employees under 16:

5-Hour Shift

30-minute break required for minors under 16

8-Hour Shift

1-hour break required for minors under 16

Adult employees (16+) have no state-mandated break requirements, though employers may voluntarily provide breaks.

Oklahoma Constitutional Right to Work

Oklahoma has strong Right to Work protections in its state constitution:

  • Protected by Oklahoma Constitution Article 23, Section 1A
  • Workers cannot be compelled to join a union or pay union dues
  • Constitutional protection makes it more difficult to overturn than statutory law

Federal Laws Apply

Since Oklahoma has minimal state-specific labor laws, employers must focus on federal compliance:

FLSA

Fair Labor Standards Act governs minimum wage, overtime, recordkeeping, and youth employment.

FMLA

Family and Medical Leave Act provides job-protected leave for eligible employees.

ADA

Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination and requires reasonable accommodations.

Title VII

Prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Ensure Federal Labor Compliance

Rightwork ensures your schedules comply with all federal labor laws and enforces Oklahoma's break requirements for minors under 16.

Learn More About Rightwork