Research Assignment Paper: Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) (Essay Sample)

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
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Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
The Fair Labor Standards Act abbreviated as FLSA provide standards for wages, as well as, overtime payment. Morgan & Riesen (2016) summarize by explaining that this act stipulates the various regulations of labor with regards to commerce employment among states that encompasses the requirements for overtime payment, limitations on the labor laws concerning children, recordkeeping, and minimum wages. In turn, it significantly affects most public and private employment. Frein (1980) asserts the Wage and Hour Division has the responsibility of administering the act. Besides, it also stipulates that the employers have the obligation of paying covered employees. The workers are not exempted from at least the minimum wage of the federal government inclusive of the overtime pay of slightly more than the rate of regular pay. For operations that are non-agricultural, it provides the restriction for the hours in which children below the age of 16 can work. Moreover, it prohibits the employment of children below the age of sixteen in jobs that are perceived to be dangerous. As for the agricultural operations, on the other hand, it also bans the employment of children below the age mentioned earlier not only in jobs that are perceived dangerous but also during school hours. Morgan & Riesen (2016) add that the Wage and Hour Division also has the responsibility of the enforcement of the standards of labor according to the provision of the INA (Immigration and National Act) which is applicable to foreigners working in the US within the visa programs for non-immigrants (Poole, Rosenthal & Poole, 2007).
The beauty of this statute is that it tackles some of the most vital labor issues such as working hours, minimum wage, youth employment, child labor, and overtime. The principles of the Fair and Labor Act tends to protect the employees from exploitation from their employers and also upholds the inherent dignity of the human being. Its provisions concerning the employment of youth, as well as, the employment of children tend to commensurate with those of the international standards. Morgan & Riesen (2016) reiterate that the objective of this act is to provide workers with protection especially against unfair practices associated with payment or even work regulations. The employers in the United States have the mandate of having the comprehension of the act because it set up numerous regulations related with employees. Frein (1980) adds that it has elaborate rules on whe...