What is the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA)?

The Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a federal law that sets the minimum wage and overtime requirements for all employees in the United States.

The act was put into place to protect employees, as well as to ensure that businesses are acting ethically and legally when it comes to their workers. It was passed in 1938.  

What does the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) state?

The FLSA states that:

1. All covered employees must be paid at least $7.25 for every hour worked. 
2. All covered employees must pe paid an overtime pay of 1.5 times their regular rate of pay after 40 hours of work per week. 
3. All covered employees must be provided with breaks and meals
4. All employers must keep accurate time records for all non-exempt employees, which are used to calculate whether or not they have worked more than 40 hours during any given workweek.

Who does the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) apply to?

The FLSA applies to all private employers, as well as federal, state, and local governments. Any employer who has employees working within the boundary of the United States must comply with the FLSA.

Who isn’t covered by the FLSA?

There are certain exceptions for specific types of industry jobs: farmworkers are not covered by the act, nor are workers in certain seasonal industries like amusement parks or agricultural businesses owned by their families or friends.