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Wage and Hour Law: Overview

by Practical Law Labor & Employment

Maintained | USA (National/Federal)

A Practice Note providing an overview of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the primary federal law establishing wage and hour standards for both public and private employers, including minimum wage and overtime pay requirements, recordkeeping obligations, and child labor restrictions. This Note is intended for private sector, for-profit employers and their nonunion workforce, but it is relevant to all employers covered by the FLSA. State and local law frequently imposes different or additional wage and hour standards. For information on state and local law, see State Wage and Hour Claims Toolkit and Wage and Hour Laws: State Q&A Tool.

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