What is the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)?

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a federal law that sets standards for wages and working conditions in the United States. It was enacted in 1938 and is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. The FLSA ensures that employees in most industries are paid a minimum wage, receive overtime pay for extra hours worked, and have other rights. In Pennsylvania, the FLSA sets a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, or $2.83 for employees that earn tips. Additionally, employees are entitled to overtime pay calculated at one-and-a-half times their regular hourly rate when they work more than 40 hours in a workweek. The FLSA also sets standards for youth employment. This includes a minimum age of 16 for most non-agricultural work and restrictions on when and for how many hours minors are allowed to work. It also prohibits the employment of children under 14. In addition, the FLSA establishes standards for record-keeping. Employers must keep accurate records of employee wages, hours worked, and other information related to their employment. This ensures that employers are not taking advantage of their employees by not paying them appropriately. Lastly, the FLSA also includes protections for workers from discrimination based on their race, gender, religion, and disability. This includes prohibitions against employers refusing to hire or promote individuals based on their identity.

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