How is the term "work week" defined in the FLSA?

In the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the term "work week" is defined as a fixed and regularly recurring period of 168 hours, which is equivalent to seven consecutive 24-hour days. The definition emphasizes the total number of hours in a week rather than a specific limit on the number of hours that can be worked before overtime pay is required.

While many may associate the concept of a work week with 40 hours—especially when discussing the threshold for overtime pay—this threshold is not the definition of a "work week" itself but rather a limit on hours worked that triggers additional pay. The FLSA stipulates that any hours worked beyond 40 in a defined work week must be compensated at an overtime rate. Nonetheless, the term itself is anchored in the framework of a full week, which comprises 168 hours.

This clarifies why the correct option captures the essence of a work week in legal terms under the FLSA, focusing on the total hours rather than the working hours that might be subject to overtime regulations.