 |
Subtopics |
 |
|
|
|
The federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt employees is $6.55 per hour
effective July 24, 2008.
Occupations such as babysitting are not subject to the minimum
wage law.
The Fair Labor
Standards Act (FLSA) requires a minimum of not less than $4.25 per hour for
employees under 20 years of age during their first 90 consecutive calendar days
of employment with an employer. After 90 days of employment, or when the worker
reaches age 20 (whichever comes first), the worker must receive the minimum
wage. Employers are prohibited from taking any action to displace employees in
order to hire employees at the youth minimum wage. Also prohibited are partial
displacements such as reducing employees’ hours, wages, or employment
benefits.
Certain full-time students, student learners, apprentices and
workers with disabilities may be paid less than the minimum wage under special
certificates from the Secretary of Labor. This is commonly referred to as the
sub-minimum wage.
Tipped employees. A tipped
employee is any employee working in an occupation in which he or she regularly
receives more than $30 a month in tips. Many states have higher direct wage
amounts for tipped employees.
Where state law requires a higher minimum wage, which many do,
that higher standard applies.
DOL Web Pages on This
Topic
Must Young Workers Be Paid
the Minimum Wage?
Information on wage requirements.
Youth Minimum Wage
Program
A brief synopsis of the youth minimum wage.
Employment Law Guide:
Minimum Wage and Overtime Pay
The FLSA establishes minimum wage,
overtime pay, record-keeping and child labor standards that affect over 100
million full- and part-time workers in the private sector and in federal,
state, and local governments.
Questions and Answers About the
Minimum Wage
Answers to questions ranging from "how often does the
minimum wage increase" to "who ensures that workers are paid at least the
minimum wage?"
Definition of Tipped
Employee
Additional information on wages.
Minimum Wages for
Tipped Employees
Some states have provisions pertaining to minor
employees who work in occupations receiving tips. This page lists actual wage
and tip amounts required to be paid to tipped employees as determined by state
law.
Full-Time Student
Program: Wages
Employers that hire full-time students in retail or
service stores, agriculture, or colleges and universities may obtain a
certificate from the Secretary of Labor allowing the student to be paid 85
percent of the minimum wage. A list of the limitations on the use of the
full-time student program is available from the Department of Labor.
Student-Learner
Program: Wages
High school students at least 16 years old who are
enrolled in vocational education classes may be paid 75 percent of the minimum
wage, if the employer obtains the proper certificate from the Secretary of
Labor authorizing such payment.
Workers with
Disabilities: Wages
Persons whose earning or productive capacity is
impaired by a physical or mental disability, including those related to age or
injury, may be paid sub-minimum wages pursuant to a certificate issued by the
Secretary of Labor.
Fact Sheet on the
Employment of Workers with Disabilities at Special Minimum
Wages
Provides general information concerning the application of section
14(c) of the FLSA.
Fact Sheet on
Restaurants & Fast Food Establishments Under the FLSA
Discussion
of issues specific to employment in restaurants, including information on
wages, tips, and food credits.
General
Information About the Fair Labor Standards Act
An overview of many
aspects to the FLSA, ranging from child labor to enforcement.
elaws Fair Labor
Standards Act (FLSA) Advisor — Child Labor Rules
This Advisor
answers questions about workers and businesses that are subject to the FLSA's
child labor rules.
Minimum Wage Laws in the
States
A map of the United States which indicates which states have
minimum wage laws, states that have minimum wage rates higher or lower than the
federal rate, or states with rates the same as the federal rate.
State Payday
Requirements
A state-by-state breakdown of how often employers must
pay their employees — weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or semi-monthly.
State Labor
Offices/State Laws
Information on state minimum wage rates and other
state child labor topics.
State Departments of Labor
Web Sites
Links to state departments of labor Web sites and contact
information for each department.
Laws & Regulations on This
Topic
Regulations
29 CFR §570.2
Hazardous Occupations in Agriculture
29 CFR
§§570.31-34
Child Labor Reg. 3 — Employment of
Minors Between 14 and 16 Years of Age
|
