What you need to know about the Fair Labor Standards Act

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor standards for employees in the United States. The FLSA was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938 and is enforced by the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Minimum Wage and Overtime Pay

Under the FLSA, employers must pay their employees at least the federal minimum wage, which is currently set at $7.25 per hour. Some states and localities have their own minimum wage rates that are higher than the federal minimum.

The FLSA also requires employers to pay overtime pay to eligible employees who work more than 40 hours in a workweek. Overtime pay must be at least one and a half times the employee’s regular rate of pay.

Recordkeeping Requirements

The FLSA requires employers to keep certain records for each employee, including their name, address, and social security number, as well as the hours they worked each day and each workweek. Employers must also keep track of the wages they paid to each employee and the dates of those payments.

Child Labor Standards

The FLSA establishes minimum age requirements for certain types of work and limits the number of hours that minors can work. For example, children under the age of 14 are generally not allowed to work, except in certain limited circumstances, such as delivering newspapers or working in certain agricultural jobs.

Other Provisions

The FLSA includes other provisions, such as requirements for employers to provide nursing mothers with break time and a private space to express breast milk, and protections for employees who report violations of the law.

Enforcement of the FLSA

The WHD is responsible for enforcing the FLSA. Employers who violate the FLSA may be subject to fines, back pay, and other penalties. Employees who believe that their employer has violated the FLSA can file a complaint with the WHD or file a lawsuit against their employer.

The Fair Labor Standards Act is an important federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor standards for employees in the United States. The FLSA is enforced by the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor, and employers who violate the law may be subject to fines and other penalties. If you believe that your employer has violated the FLSA, it is important to seek the advice from out qualified Utah employment law attorney and our Utah employment law firm.