What are the Federal labor laws?

Federal labor laws are regulations that are implemented and enforced at the federal level and cover a variety of topics including minimum wage, overtime pay, record-keeping, health and safety, and employee rights. In Minnesota, the most common federal labor laws include the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes and enforces minimum wage, overtime pay, record-keeping, and child labor standards. It also prevents employers from discriminating against employees based on their sex, race, or national origin. The FLSA mandates that employers pay at least the federal minimum wage, currently set at $7.25 per hour. Additionally, for every hour worked over 40 in a workweek, employers must pay employees at least one and a half times their regular rate of pay. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows eligible employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave for certain family and medical reasons. Employees are eligible for FMLA leave if they have worked for their employer for at least 12 months, have worked at least 1,250 hours in the 12 months before their leave begins, and work at a location where their employer has at least 50 employees within 75 miles. The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) protects workers’ rights to organize, join labor unions, and engage in collective bargaining. The law prohibits employers from engaging in activities that interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of their rights. Lastly, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits employers from discriminating against employees based on a protected category such as race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Title VII also prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for filing a discrimination claim. Overall, these federal labor laws help protect and provide rights to workers, helping ensure fair working conditions in the state of Minnesota.

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