Overtime with the 40-hour reform: limits and pay

When the workday is reduced, the pressure shifts somewhere else: overtime. Many operations will cover with overtime the hours that the law cuts back each year. That is why the reform also changed its rules.

Poorly tracked overtime is one of the most frequent sources of labor claims. An incomplete payment today can turn into a lawsuit tomorrow.

The new rules for overtime

Under the reform to the Federal Labor Law published on May 1, 2026:

• Gradual weekly cap: 9 hours in 2026 and 2027, 10 in 2028, 11 in 2029, and 12 in 2030.

• Daily limit: Maximum of 4 hours of overtime per day, up to 4 days per week.

• Double pay: Hours within the cap are paid at 100% in addition to the hourly wage.

• Triple pay: Hours exceeding the cap are paid at 200% in addition.

• Minors: Overtime is prohibited for workers under 18 years of age.

And starting in 2027, the maximum workweek drops to 46 hours. What is a standard 48-hour week today will already include two overtime hours in January. Accurately calculating pay depends on one fundamental piece of data: how many hours were actually worked. Without a reliable record, any calculation is just an estimate.

[Clock-in and clock-out] ➔ [Automatic overtime calculation] ➔ [Justified clarification or correction] ➔ [Signed timesheet in the employee file]

How to document overtime with Sora

1. Actual recorded workday: Jornada Laboral, Sora's time clock, records each employee's clock-in and clock-out times, validated with facial recognition.

2. Automatic calculation: Sora calculates regular and overtime hours for each period. HR sees which shifts exceeded the schedule without having to manually review sheets.

3. Auditable corrections: If something doesn't add up, HR requests clarification. If a punch is corrected, a record remains showing who made it and why.

4. Signed timesheet ready for payroll: At the close of the period, each employee signs off on their hours. HR receives the closed, reviewed hours for payment, and everything is archived in the employee file.

Clarification regarding platform scope

Sora generates and protects the evidence of work shifts and signed agreements. Sora does not process payroll or make payments. Overtime payment is executed within each company's payroll system, using the reviewed and signed hours provided by Sora. [CONFIRM payroll export format]

Every unrecorded overtime hour is an hour the company will have to defend without evidence.
Schedule your Jornada Laboral demo and see how much overtime your operation is generating. https://sora.mx/reloj-checador