Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938

The Fair Labor Standards Act has been amended(Department of Labor). Vocational student
numerous times since 1938 when it was firstlearners, full time students in service or retail
enacted and still provides protection and definesestablishments or working in the field of
the law in reference to minimum wages, overtimeagriculture of in institutions of higher learning are
pay, child labor and the record keeping requiredalso exempt from the act and are not protected
by all employers doing a volume of not less thanunder the minimum wage laws. This is also true of
$500,000 annually. There are, of course,work being performed by the disabled, either
exceptions to this rule. Hospitals and institutionsphysically or mentally, and even those who are
that take care of the sick, aged, disabled anddisabled due to injury or age.
mentally ill with inpatient care are covered by thisThe following Fact Sheets are the most common
act. Schools, including all elementary andunder the FSLA:
secondary schools and those catering to the- #1: The Construction Industry
mentally or physically disabled and to the gifted- #2A: Employing Youth in Restaurants
are also covered, as well as local, state and- #3: Professional Offices
federal governmental agencies. The act also- #4: Security Guard/ Maintenance Service
covers domestic service workers if they receiveIndustry
at least $1700 (this number changes every year)- #5: Real Estate and Rental Agencies
in cash wages from any single employer in a- #6: The Retail Industry
calendar year or if they work more than eight- #7: State and Local Governments
hours in any one week for one or more- #8: Police and Firefighters
employers. Domestic service workers are full-time- #9: Manufacturing Establishments
babysitters, nannies, housekeepers, cooks and- #10 Wholesale and Warehouse Industries
chauffeurs.- #11: Automobile Dealers
There are a number of exemptions to both the- #12: Agricultural Employers
minimum wage requirements and to the overtime- #16: Deductions from Wages for Uniforms and
pay requirements, based on your profession. YourOther Facilities
local Wage and Hour Division office should be able- #21: Recordkeeping Requirements
to tell you if you are eligible for protection under- #23: Overtime Pay Requirements
this act.- #24: Homeworkers
The basic provisions, unless an employee is- #25: The Home Health Care Industry
exempt, is that as of July 24, 2009, the minimum- #27: New Businesses
wage requirement is $7.25 an hour. Youth under- #28: The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993
the age of 20 may be paid less during the first 90- #31: Nursing Care Facilities
consecutive calendar days of employment, which- #33: Residential Care Facilities (Group Homes)
is usually considered a trial or training period, and- #35: Joint Employment and Independent
that amount cannot be less than $4.25 an hour.Contractors Under the Migrant and Seasonal
Employers also cannot just fire an older employeeAgricultural
in order to hire a youth at the lower pay rate.- #39: The Employment of Workers with
Questions about this area of the law are availableDisabilities at Special Minimum Wages
on the Wage and Hour Division Fact Sheet #32:- #45: Hotel and Motel Establishments
Youth Minimum Wage-FLSA (Fair Labor Standards- #46: Daycare Centers and Preschools
Act).- #58: Cooking and Baking
The laws regarding piece-work or tipped- #61: Day Laborers
employees are pretty complicated and allow for- #64: Call Centers
paying less per hour as long as the remainder is- #66: The Davis Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA)
earned in the way of commissions paid on- #71: Internship Programs
piece-work or in the way of tips. Fact Sheet #15:As you can see, the FSLA can be complicated, at
Tipped Employees, under the FLSA can answerbest, though the Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
any questions or concerns you may have asdoes a much better job of explaining and teaching
either an employer or employee.than do some governmental agencies. Kudos to
Also be aware that certain individuals can bethem for making a hard subject easier to
employed at wages below the statutory minimumunderstand!
wage under certificates issued by the DOL