FLSA is the main federal law regulating wages paid and hours worked; establishing minimum wage levels and overtime pay rates (time and one half the regular rate for non-exempt employees working over forty hours per workweek); establishing categories of employees that exempt employees from overtime pay rates; and child labor standards.

Though state and local legislation often follow FLSA, some states may have different requirements. Employers must follow whichever law provides the greatest benefit to the employee.

Features of FLSA:

• Wage and Hour Requirements

• Minimum Wage

• Maximum Hours

• Overtime Compensation

• Federal Child Labor Restrictions

• Entitlement of Overtime Pay

• Exempt

• Non-exempt

• Salary, classification, job title, job description, actual duties and responsibilities

• Other wage and hour issues

• Compensatory time

• Deductions for salaried employee’s pay

• Travel time

Helpful links

• http://www.dol.gov/elaws/flsa.htm

• http://www.dol.gov/asp/programs/handbook/minwage.htm

• http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/flsa/