What is the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)?
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a federal law that establishes the minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards for workers in the United States. This law is enforced by the Wage and Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor. In Texas, the FLSA applies to employers that have any employees who engage in interstate commerce. These employers must comply with the federal minimum wage, which is currently $7.25 per hour. The statutory overtime rate is one-and-a-half times the regular rate of pay, and applies to any work performed in excess of 40 hours per week. The FLSA also outlines certain rules that employers must follow when employing minors, such as child labor laws in Texas. Generally, minors aged 14 or 15 can only work outside of school hours, and their total hours of school and work combined cannot exceed eight hours per day or 48 hours per week. Lastly, the FLSA requires employers to provide certain records to employees and the Wage and Hour Division. This includes records detailing employee wages and hours, as well as any deductions that may have been taken from their pay. In sum, the FLSA is a federal law that sets the minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards for employers in Texas and throughout the United States. It helps ensure that workers are paid a fair wage for their labor and that employers comply with proper employment practices.
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