What is the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)?

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a federal law that sets minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor standards for employees in the United States. The FLSA was established in 1938 and is enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The FLSA gives employees the right to be paid at least the federal minimum wage, which in Tennessee is currently $7.25 per hour for most nonexempt employees. Employers must also pay overtime wages to nonexempt employees who work more than 40 hours in a workweek. Employees must be paid one and one-half times their regular rate of pay for all hours worked beyond 40 hours in a workweek. The FLSA also requires employers to keep records on employee hours worked and wages paid. This helps ensure that all employees are paid in accordance with the law. The FLSA also has provisions that limit the amount of time children can work and generally prohibits minors below the age of 16 from working in hazardous jobs. The FLSA is important because it provides a basic level of protection for workers. It ensures that employees are paid a minimum wage and that they are protected from excessive overtime hours. It also protects children from hazardous work and sets a recordkeeping standard for employers to follow.

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What is the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)?

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