Legal Definitions - FLSA

The FLSA, which stands for the Fair Labor Standards Act, is a foundational federal law in the United States that establishes essential standards for employment conditions. It governs critical aspects such as the federal minimum wage, eligibility for overtime pay, requirements for employers to keep accurate records, and strict rules regarding child labor. The primary goal of the FLSA is to protect workers by ensuring they receive fair compensation and work in safe and equitable environments.

Here are some examples illustrating how the FLSA applies:

• Example 1: Minimum Wage Compliance

  Imagine a small, independent bookstore that hires a new part-time employee to work at the cash register. The owner, unaware of federal regulations, decides to pay the employee $5.00 per hour, believing it's a fair wage for a new hire in their small town. However, the federal minimum wage mandated by the FLSA is significantly higher than $5.00 per hour. In this scenario, the bookstore owner would be in violation of the FLSA, as they are legally required to pay at least the federal minimum wage to their employees, regardless of local customs or the size of the business, unless specific exemptions apply.

• Example 2: Overtime Pay for Non-Exempt Employees

  Consider a customer service representative working for a large online retailer. This employee is paid an hourly wage and is classified as "non-exempt" under the FLSA. During a busy holiday shopping season, they are asked to work 55 hours in a single week. Their employer pays them for all 55 hours at their standard hourly rate. This would be a violation of the FLSA. The Act requires that most non-exempt employees who work more than 40 hours in a workweek must be paid overtime at a rate of one and a half times their regular hourly rate for all hours worked beyond 40. The employer's failure to pay "time and a half" for the additional 15 hours constitutes an FLSA violation.

• Example 3: Child Labor Protections

  A 14-year-old student wants to earn some money during the summer and finds a job working for a local landscaping company. The company owner has the student operate a commercial riding lawnmower for several hours each day and work until 9:00 PM on school nights. This situation would likely violate the FLSA's child labor provisions. The FLSA sets strict limits on the types of jobs minors can perform (prohibiting hazardous occupations like operating heavy machinery), the number of hours they can work, and the times of day they can work, especially for those under 16. These rules are designed to protect the safety, health, and educational opportunities of young workers.