The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Wage and Hour Compliance for 2022

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), commonly referred to as the Wage and Hour Act, is considered to be an employee protection act. This Act was passed in 1938. Since then, the FLSA has been amended many times. The major provisions of the Act are concerned with Federal minimum wage rates, overtime payments, child labor, equal pay, and recordkeeping. The US Department of Labor, Wage & Hour Division, oversees Federal labor laws. Additionally, State DOLs administer state labor laws. Failure to comply with wage and hour laws may result in the employer paying the employee back wages, damages, penalties, attorney fees and court costs, plus the prospect of civil and criminal penalties from federal and/or state governments. Therefore, wage and hour compliance are of the utmost importance.