History of the Flsa Essay - 982 Words

The History of the Fair Labor Standards Act Abstract After the great depression, unions were legalized in order to be the voice for the workers for whom they represented to their employers. Once this legalization became evident through federal statute, set the stage for what was to become the Fair Labor Standards Act. Having just survived a depression, the United States was hoping to avoid any future economic downturns, the government would accomplish this with paying higher wages that the employer could afford and employees could provide for their families. The History of the Fair Labor Standards Act The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is administered by the United States Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division.†¦show more content†¦The President set out to raise wages, create employment, and thus restore business, the Nations employers signed more than 2.3 million agreements covering 16.3 million employees (Grossman, 1978). On White Monday, March 29, 1937, the High Court reversed its course when it decided the case of West Coast Hotel Company v. Parrish, the plaintiff was suing for back wages, in a turnaround, Justice Owen Roberts voted with the four-man liberal minority to uphold the Washington minimum wage law; the FLSA had been vindicated. Justice Roberts vote and big switch was an important event in American legal history, social history in America also changed for the legal attitude toward labor standards (Grossman, 1978). The FLSA achieved its aim through a single mandatory device: forced overtime pay, it forces employers to pay employees when working lon ger than 40 hours. Rather than balancing the interests of employers and employees, the obligations and burdens imposed by the Act are completely one-sided; they favor employees alone (Wilson, 2005). Moving forward, the FLSA was amended by the Portal-to-Portal Act on May 14, 1947, this legislation was significant because it resolved some issues as what constitutes compensable hours worked (Dept. of Labor, 1988). This act defined compensable work time,Show MoreRelatedThis American (Working) Life1053 Words   |  5 Pagesteachers, managers and others are not required by law to receive overtime pay (U.S. Cong. Federal Labor). These and other professions are labeled exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act. An exempt profession, when put on a salary, is not protected by the FLSA and can work as many hours as required with no extra compensation. According to a new bill, S. 1747 The Computer Professionals Update Act , legislators would extend these exemptions to other IT professions ( 27-31). In a time when it is hard to findRead MorePatel V. Quality Inn South1328 Words   |  6 Pagesnot protected under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) (â€Å"PATEL v. QUALITY, † n.d.). The Eleventh Circuit Court contacted the U.S. Department of Labor in order to determine whether or not undocumented aliens could protest and file for violations under the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The U.S. Department of Labor responded and took â€Å"the position that undocumented aliens were covered by the provisions of the FLSA and thus were entitled to its protections† (â€Å"PATELRead MoreFair Labor Standards Act of 19381718 Words   |  7 Pagespassed, and the President described it in the following way â€Å"Except for the Social Security Act, it (the FLSA) is the most far-reaching, far-sighted program for the benefit of workers ever adopted here or in any other country.† (Nordlund). The FLSA, as it is known, set a maximu m number of hours worked, established a minimum wage earned, and set standards for overtime pay. The other aspect of the FLSA is that it outlawed child labor, restricted interstate trade of items made using child labor and setRead MoreThe Impact Of National Relations Labor Act ( Nlra ) And The Fair Labor Standards Act1181 Words   |  5 Pagesworking conditions, wages and benefits improved over the last century with the workforce increasing six fold over the period (Gould, 1986). This research will focus on impacts of National Relations Labor Act (NLRA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) enacted in the 20th century, including major circumstances that led to the intent of the legislation. In addition, research will show applicability of these two law’s in today’s environment and modernization recommendations. National Labor RelationsRead MoreThe Importance Of An Integral Workforce Within The United States Economy1704 Words   |  7 PagesHarris, author of â€Å"Conceptions of Fairness and the Fair Labor Standard Act†, proclaimed that the passage of the act was the creation of a statue that is beneficial to the less powerful at the expense of the more powerful (2000). The foundation of the FLSA gave the working class a legal tool which could be used against companies’ oppression. This paper will discuss how the Fair Standards and Labor Act provided legal fortitude to the decision affirmed in Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo (136 S. CT. 1036Read MoreFDR’s Alphabet Soup1158 Words   |  5 Pageswas the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) during President Roosevelt’s second term in 1938. The Act would have been approved sooner but it took multiple tries for the to get passed. The FLSA further regulates hourly wages, child labor, and regulated the maximum workweek at 44 hours. It did require or regulate individual vacations for employers. Nor did it include sick pay, meal periods, weekend or holiday pay regulations, raises, or reasons for termination. The FLSA included the private, state, governmentRead MoreEmployment Law831 Words   |  4 Pagesto brief the audience globally on the USA employment laws and regulations but not limited to Sexual harassment, Wage and Salary Legislation, Recruitment, Interviewing, Affirmative Action, Equal Employment and the ADA. This paper will go over the history of a few of the important acts that have been passed over the years to protect employees in the United States. It will also discuss the major protections that these acts provide and who are eligible for that protection. Now that the Pomodoro, IncRead MoreMinimum Wage and Its Implications763 Words   |  3 Pageseffects that will have a significant impact on national economy. The federal minimum wage originated in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) signed by President Franklin Roosevelt on June 25, 1938. The FLSA originally only covered about 38 percent of the labor force, mostly in the transportation, manufacturing, and mining industries. As the years went on the FLSA began covering more and more people. Over the years, Congress significantly expanded the coverage and increased the wage rate. Over theRead MoreEmployment And Privacy Of The United States1612 Words   |  7 Pagesperform. On the other hand, the employer has to also meet their part of the deal by providing the correct employee benefits and make sure no discrimination occurs. There are several laws that have been established like the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to name a few, that help keep employers in check, and help provide standards to make sure everyone is given the same opportunities. Some laws might be seen as moreRead MorePros and Cons of Raising a Minimum Wage Essay1126 Words   |  5 Pagestwo minimum wages. In this paper we will discuss the brief history of the minimum wage law and its current legislation. We will also analyze the pros and cons of raising the minimum wage, and the merits of each argument. The minimum wage was first introduced in New Zealand in 1894. It wasn’t until 1938, that President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the first US minimum wage law called the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The FLSA sets standards for the basic minimum wage, which required employers