How is wage and hour law different from labor law?
Wage and hour law and labor law deal with similar topics but they are quite different in scope and purpose. Wage and hour law refers to the laws and regulations that govern the payment of wages and the hours that employees must work. Most of these laws are set at the federal level and then enforced by the Department of Labor (or state agencies). These laws are mainly concerned with minimum wages, overtime wages, and certain other aspects of how employees are compensated. Labor law, on the other hand, refers to a wider range of workplace rules and regulations. These include the rules that govern labor unions, the protection of workers’ rights, the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, health and safety standards, and other workplace standards. These are mainly enforced by the National Labor Relations Board (or state agencies) and are a form of public law. In Virginia, wage and hour law is mainly enforced through the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, while labor law is mainly enforced through the National Labor Relations Board. Although both types of law have similar goals of protecting workers’ rights, they are distinct in scope and purpose, with wage and hour law mainly concerned with the wages and hours of work while labor law covers a wider range of workplace standards.
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