Wage and Hour Laws
Here you will find information to help small businesses comply with Federal wage and hour laws.
Fair Labor Standards
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards affecting employees.
- Handy Reference Guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act
The Fair Labor Standards Act establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards affecting full-time and part-time workers in the private sector and in Federal, State, and local governments.
- Fair Labor Standards Act Advisor
The FLSA Advisor provides help on complying with the minimum wage, overtime pay, child labor and recordkeeping laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor.
- Fair Labor Standards Act : Compliance Assistance
Compliance assistance resources from the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor concerning various requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
- Fair Labor Standards Act Overtime Security Advisor
This tool helps workers and employers identify workers who are entitled to minimum wage and overtime pay protections.
- Fair Labor Standards Act Section 14(c) Advisor
Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act authorizes employers, after receiving a certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, to pay special minimum wages wages less than the Federal minimum wage to workers who have disabilities for the work being performed. This Advisor helps to make the rules more understandable.
- Work Hours and Other Pay Issues
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the term work hours generally refers to time spent by employees performing work for their employers for which they are entitled to compensation. Federal laws pertaining to work hours are enforced by the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment Standards Administration. The Wage and Hour Division offers a range of guidance materials available on the subject of work hours.
Minimum Wage Laws
- State Minimum Wage Laws
A map linking to information on state minimum wage laws.
- Minimum Wage FAQs
Answers questions ranging from "how often does the minimum wage increase" to "who ensures that workers are paid at least the minimum wage.
- Notice to Workers Paid Special Minimum Wages
Every employer of workers with disabilities under special minimum wage certificates authorized by the Fair Labor Standards Act, the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act, and/or the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act shall display a poster prescribed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division explaining the conditions under which special minimum wages may be paid.
Overtime Pay
Equal Pay
Wage Garnishment
Wages Laws for Specific Types of Workers
Federal Contactors
- Wages under Federal Contracts
The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division administers laws and regulations requiring minimum wages and fringe benefits to be paid to workers performing construction work on federally-funded contracts or providing services to the federal government.
Foreign Labor
- Wages under Foreign Labor Certification
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers on a temporary or permanent basis to perform certain types of work. The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration generally grants certification to employers to obtain special visas in order to hire foreign workers in cases where there are insufficient qualified U.S. workers available and willing to perform work at wages that meet or exceed the prevailing wage paid for that occupation in the area of intended employment.
Seasonal and Migrant Workers
- Migrant and Seasonal Workers Protection Act : Compliance Assistance
The Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act removes the restraints on commerce caused by activities detrimental to migrant and seasonal agricultural workers; requires farm labor contractors to register under this Act; and assures necessary protections for migrant and seasonal agricultural workers, agricultural associations, and agricultural employers.
- Wages in Agriculture
This page provides information on the obligations of employers of agricultural workers, including migrant and seasonal agricultural workers.
General Resources
More information about Federal employment laws.
- FirstStep Employment Law Advisor
The FirstStep Employment Law Advisor is designed to help employers determine which laws administered by the Department of Labor apply to their business or organization and to provide links to information about how to comply with these laws.
- Find It! By Topic : Wages
Provides a shortcut to the information and services the Department of Labor offers on wages.
- Find It! By Topic : Work Hours
Provides a shortcut to the information and services the Department of Labor offers on worked hours.
- Wages and Hours Worked
The U.S. Department of Labor administers several laws that affect the wages and hours of covered workers. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires payment of no less than the federal minimum wage for each hour worked and time and one-half the employee's regular rate of pay for hours worked in excess of 40 in the workweek for non-exempt workers. Most migrant and seasonal workers engaged in agriculture are protected by the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act. The Immigration and Nationality Act allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers on a temporary or permanent basis to perform certain types of work.