The Fair Labor Standards Act

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was originally passed in 1938, and is also known as the Wages and Hours Bill because it establishes the 40-hour work week, minimum wage laws, and mandatory time-and-a-half pay for overtime in certain jobs. In addition, it also banned child labor in most occupations that could be deemed dangerous to children. Employers who are in violation of these rules concerning the minimum wage and overtime pay are violating a federal law, and can be prosecuted.

If you or someone you love is not being fairly compensated for his or her work, the Austin employment attorneys of Melton & Kumler, LLP may be able to help. Contact us today by calling 512-330-0017, and find out more about how we can help defend your legal rights.

Updates to the Law

Because the FLSA was originally passed back in 1938, there have naturally been several updates to the content of the Act. While the general intent of the Act has remained – that is, to provide certain basic rights for American workers – changing times have necessitated changes to the details of the bill. Among them are:

• The update of the minimum wage. The national minimum wage has been updated several times, most recently to $7.25 per hour, or $2.13 an hour for tipped labor. If you aren’t being paid this sum, your employer is breaking the law.
• An amendment was added illegalizing the discrimination of people over the age of 40.
• The status of some employees as “exempt” or “non-exempt” has changed over the years.

Contact Us

If you or someone you love has been the victim of illegal employment practices, you deserve compensation. Contact the Austin employment lawyers of Melton & Kumler, LLP today by calling 512-330-0017 to find out how we can help you.