The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) governs wage and hour law by defining the 40-hour workweek, establishing a federal minimum wage, providing for overtime, and regulating child labor. State law may also govern an employee's wages and hours - for example, many states have a higher minimum wage requirement. Generally speaking, employees must be paid for any "work time" - time spent on an activity that is performed for the benefit of the employer. Although co-workers may be paid different amounts depending on their skills, education, and background, pay differentiation can not be based on a protected characteristic such as race, sex, or religion. If an employer violates the FLSA, a plaintiff employee is entitled to statutory damages, which include past wages, attorney fees, and liquidated damages.

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Wage and Hour Articles

State Specific Resources

-   Employment Law in Your State -   State Labor & Industries Websites

-   State Unemployment Insurance Websites -   State Workers' Compensation Websites

Articles

-   Severance Pay Plans -   Equal Pay Act: Employers, Workers and Unions

-   Severance Pay Plans-Employee Perspective -   Equal Pay Act: Exceptions for Unequal Pay

-   Federal and State Laws and Your Wages -   Wage and Overtime Basics

-   Minimum Wage under the FLSA -   Minimum Wage

-   Regular Rate of Pay under the FLSA -   Prevailing Wages

-   Child Labor under the Fair Labor Standards Act -   Changing Pay Rate

-   Time Limits for FLSA Claims -   Burdens of Proof under the FLSA

-   Equal Pay Act: Fixing Violations -   Time Out and Off Work

-   Employee Lawsuits under the FLSA -   Vacation Time after Leaving an Employer

-   Liquidated Damages and FLSA Claims -   Wages and Hour Law: Exempt vs NonExempt Employees

-   Prejudgment Interest and FLSA Awards -   Exemptions from Overtime Only and the FLSA

-   Costs and Attorney's Fees under the FLSA -   Emergency Personnel Exemptions under the FLSA

-   Wages and Compensation -   Overtime (OT)

-   Basics of Wages and Overtime Laws -   Back Pay under the FLSA

-   FLSA: Anti-discrimination and Retaliation -   Holiday Sick and Vacation Pay under the FLSA

-   Meals and Rest Periods at Work -   Recordkeeping Requirements under the FLSA

-   Performance Reviews and Raises at Work -   Transportation Industry Exemptions under the FLSA

-   Collective Actions under the FLSA -   Mandatory Overtime and Your Job

-   Government Employees and the FLSA -   Health Insurance and Other Routine Wage Deductions

-   White Collar Exemptions under the FLSA -   FLSA Wage Garnishments, Assignments & Deductions

-   Independent Contractors under the FLSA -   Good Faith Defenses to Wage Law Violation Claims

-   Wages and Overtime For The Employer -   Davis Bacon Act

-   Equal Pay Laws -   Equal Pay Act: Unequal Pay Based on Sex

-   Equal Pay Act: Equality of Work -   Davis-Bacon Act

-   Enforcement of the Fair Labor Standards Act -   Exempt vs NonExempt Employees

-   Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act -   Portal-to-Portal Act

-   US Children Illegally Working Farm and Office Jobs

Wage and Hours Law FAQ's

-   Employees: Wages and Hours FAQ

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