Flsa
Fair Labor Standards Act
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is an act that was passed by Congress to help regulate minimum wage, working hours and child labor in the United States. As a requirement of the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers are also obligated to keep and maintain appropriate records of both exempt as well as non-exempt employees (www.dol.gov).
In addition, for employees earning salaries that are at the lower end of the pay scale, a provision of this Federal Act has made sure that they do not fall into the poverty level. As such, FLSA requires employers of these said employees, to pay them a certain amount that ensures that they are living at the pre-set minimum standard of living level for that area (Bennett Alexander, 2004). However, this part of the law is only perfect in theory. In real life, it has actually caused poverty in some areas. By paying those at the low end of the pay scale just enough the make sure that they are living at the minimum standard of living for that area, it ensures that they stay at that level and thus are not able to advance themselves economically. Also, it keeps the employer from having the obligation of paying higher wages as they realize that since he/she’s meeting the minimum requirements of the Act, there is no need to go above and beyond.
History of the FLSA
After the great depression ended in the 1940’s, the United States government hoped to avoid any future potential economic downturns. To repetition of these economic downturns, the government would need to make sure that the employers were paying fair and better wages and in turn, employees could therefore be able to provide for their families. Unions became legalized so that they could be the voices and representatives between the workers and their employers. Once it was evident that unions were now officially authorized through federal statute as the representatives of the employees, there came up a need for a piece of legislation that would address
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is an act that was passed by Congress to help regulate minimum wage, working hours and child labor in the United States. As a requirement of the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers are also obligated to keep and maintain appropriate records of both exempt as well as non-exempt employees (www.dol.gov).
In addition, for employees earning salaries that are at the lower end of the pay scale, a provision of this Federal Act has made sure that they do not fall into the poverty level. As such, FLSA requires employers of these said employees, to pay them a certain amount that ensures that they are living at the pre-set minimum standard of living level for that area (Bennett Alexander, 2004). However, this part of the law is only perfect in theory. In real life, it has actually caused poverty in some areas. By paying those at the low end of the pay scale just enough the make sure that they are living at the minimum standard of living for that area, it ensures that they stay at that level and thus are not able to advance themselves economically. Also, it keeps the employer from having the obligation of paying higher wages as they realize that since he/she’s meeting the minimum requirements of the Act, there is no need to go above and beyond.
History of the FLSA
After the great depression ended in the 1940’s, the United States government hoped to avoid any future potential economic downturns. To repetition of these economic downturns, the government would need to make sure that the employers were paying fair and better wages and in turn, employees could therefore be able to provide for their families. Unions became legalized so that they could be the voices and representatives between the workers and their employers. Once it was evident that unions were now officially authorized through federal statute as the representatives of the employees, there came up a need for a piece of legislation that would address