When do federal labor laws apply?
Federal labor laws apply at both the federal and state levels. In Indiana, the federal labor law is the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This act is administered by the US Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. The FLSA applies to most employees in the United States and sets standards for minimum wage, overtime pay, youth labor protections, record-keeping, and more. The Fair Labor Standards Act applies to employers who meet a certain criteria. Employers must have an annual gross volume of sales or business of at least $500,000, or be engaged in interstate commerce or the production of goods. If an employer does not meet these guidelines, the Indiana Department of Labor (DOL) laws apply instead. Indiana’s DOL regulations are more comprehensive and include rules about wages, hours of work, overtime pay, record-keeping, vacation and sick leave, holidays, and more. It is important to keep in mind that some employers may be exempt from certain parts of the federal and state labor laws. For example, agricultural employers and employers of certain small newspapers or seasonal amusement parks may be exempt from certain wage and hour laws. Therefore, it is important to research the employer’s specific situation to make sure all relevant labor laws are being followed.
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