My question is about overtime policies and number of hours per week.

Unless your company/job is governed by specific regulations (e.g. trucking, avation) or by a union contract that sets maximum hours, there are no limits on the number of hours or consecutive days your employer can require you to work.  You could dream up an OSHA issue if there are safety concerns involved, but that would be fact-specific to you and your job. So mandatory overtime is not illegal. While some employers have their own policies about paying double time (ususally holidays) there is no law that requires them to pay double time.  If your employer makes you work more than 40 hours in a single week (and you are not an exempt employee - professionals, managers, some sales and IT folks), then it is required to pay you 1.5 times your normal hourly rate for each hour over 40.