What is the Fair Labor Standards Act?

Understanding your rights as an employee is an important part of ensuring that you are treated with the respect and fairness to which you are entitled. The Fair Labor Standards Act was created to give all employees equal rights and opportunities, yet many workers in California still do not understand what the law covers. Here is everything you need to know about the FLSA and how it affects your position.

One aspect that you need to understand is who is covered under the Act. The Office of Financial Management states that, in order to be eligible, you must first verify that your position is covered under the FLSA’s mandatory overtime provisions. This will be determined by your agency’s Human Resource Office, but will follow the guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of Labor. If you are eligible for overtime, you must also comply with the Act’s standards by filling out a Time and Attendance record. If you work more than 40 hours per week, you should be paid one and one-half time your regular hourly rate.

The rights that are covered under the Act include eligibility for overtime pay, minimum wage, child labor standards and recordkeeping. You can be covered if you are employed either full- or part-time in any sector, whether you work for the government or in a private sector.

Some aspects of the Act will only apply if your salary and job duties meet the requirements set forth, including overtime pay and minimum wage. This information is intended for your knowledge and education and should not be taken as legal advice.