🛠️
topic
Wages, Hours & Workplace Rights
"Am I getting what I'm legally owed at work?"
in plain english
The FLSA sets the minimum floor on pay, hours, and overtime — states can go higher.
The Fair Labor Standards Act is the spine of U.S. wage law: minimum wage, overtime above 40 hours per week, recordkeeping, and child-labor limits. Whether you're 'exempt' from overtime depends on your job duties and salary, not just your title.
Misclassification — calling an employee a 'contractor' to avoid taxes and overtime — is one of the most common violations. The IRS uses its own multi-factor test, which often disagrees with the company's paperwork.
in the margin
- Exempt employee
- Workers excluded from overtime pay, usually salaried managers/professionals.
- Misclassification
- Treating an employee as a contractor to avoid taxes and protections.
Hover a node to trace connections
eCFR29 USC § 206
Federal minimum wage
The federal floor is $7.25/hr; many states and cities set it higher.
Source: Code of Federal Regulations
keep reading