The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 has been challenged and changed many times through its history, but its legacy has created a standard for the labor industry today.
The top four benefits of the FLSA are:
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1. The creation of the first federal minimum wage.
The FLSA created the first federal minimum wage at 25 cents per hour in 1938. Having been increased numerous times throughout its history, the minimum wage is a central point of the FLSA.
Before this, states would make minimum wage standards that were often challenged in court, according to the
Department of Labor.
2. The creation of overtime pay.
The FLSA created a standard work week, originally 44 hours per week. The Act required employers to pay employees one-and-a-half times their hourly wage for hours worked past this point,
the Congressional Research Service said.
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3. The creation of a minimum age to work.
Eliminating harsh conditions and very young child labor was one of the key focuses of the FLSA. It set the standard minimum wage to 14, or even 16 in nonagricultural jobs, the CRS said.
4. The Equal Pay Amendment
Often referred to separately, the Equal Pay Act of 1963 was an amendment to the FLSA that banned gender-based wage differences. It is enforced by the
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
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