wageandhour

Wage and hour refers to the set of laws and regulations governing how workers are compensated and how their time is accounted. These rules cover minimum wage, overtime pay, paid and unpaid time, and restrictions on working hours, particularly for youth. They are designed to ensure fair compensation for work performed, prevent excessive hours, and establish recordkeeping standards.

In the United States, the core federal framework is the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), administered by the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the U.S. Department of Labor. The FLSA establishes a federal minimum wage, requires overtime pay at 1.5 times the regular rate for non-exempt employees who work more than 40 hours in a workweek, and imposes child labor protections. It also requires employers to maintain records of hours worked and wages paid. Certain jobs can be exempt from minimum wage and/or overtime, including executive, administrative, professional, outside sales, and some computer-related positions, depending on duties and income thresholds.

Wage and hour enforcement includes inspections, investigations, back wage payments, and civil penalties for violations. States and localities may impose higher minimum wages and additional rules, and employers must comply with the rule most favorable to the employee, or with the higher standard where applicable. Wage-and-hour concerns also include worker misclassification, wage theft, and proper compensation for overtime and breaks, which vary by jurisdiction.