In California, I am a non-exempt worker at an 8 - 5 job (including 1 hour unpaid lunch) and get paid wage A. I also do additional hourly work for the company which is compensated differently at a higher wage B. On a particular day, I worked 8 hours at the normal wage A and then performed three additional hours of work which normally would be paid wage B.

It is my thought that as the work that put me into overtime was covered by wage B, I should get 1.5 * wage B for those three hours.

My company is attempting to tell me that I am to get either 1.5 * wage A or a flat wage B, whichever is higher (Wage B alone actually is the higher of the two). I don't understand this logic and can't see how this is legal.

So, how should I be compensated?