The Fair Labor Standards Act The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was passed by Congress on June 25th, 1938. The main objective of the act was to eliminate “labor conditions detrimental to the maintenance of the minimum standards of living necessary for health, efficiency and well-being of workers,”[1] who engaged directly or indirectly in interstate commerce, including those involved in production of goods bound for such commerce. A major provision of the act established a maximum work week and minimum wage. Initially, the minimum wage was $0.25 per hour, along with a maximum workweek of 44 hours for the first year, 42 for the second year and 40 thereafter. Minimum wages of $0.25 per hour were …show more content…
Wage Standards and Exemptions Covered nonexempt workers are entitled to a minimum wage of not less than $5.15 an hour. Overtime pay at a rate of not less than one and one-half times their regular rate of pay is required after 40 hours of work in a workweek. Wages required by FLSA are due on the regular payday for the pay period covered. Who is Covered? All employees of certain enterprises having workers engaged in interstate commerce, producing goods for interstate commerce, or handling, selling, or otherwise working on goods or materials that have been moved in or produced for such commerce are covered by FLSA. Employees of firms which are not covered enterprises under FLSA still may be subject to its minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor provisions if they are individually engaged in interstate commerce or in the production of goods for interstate commerce, or in any closely-related process or occupation directly essential to such production. Recent Changes to FLSA The U.S Department of Labor (DOL) has strengthened overtime rights for 6.7 million American workers, including 1.3 million salaried white-collar employees who were denied overtime pay under previous rules.
Capitalism was the sole purpose for being the cause of an exponential use of slaves in all aspects of production. Notably, it involved an economic system whose basis originates from private ownership of all the means of production as well as the production of goods and services majorly meant for profit. With characteristics such as accumulation of capital, labor, private property ownership, and competitive market. Therefore, there was a great need for means of production hence slavery. However, there is a close relationship between free and slave labor as used in production. The paper uses “Capitalism and Slavery” (William, 1961) as a primary source material to compare the profitability of free labor and slave labor through an in-depth discussion of the role the African slavery played in the development of capitalism in the New World. Free labor and slave labor both have profits in the production process and would be applied differently at various places. For instance, slave labor was profitable in activities in which little skills and versatility in production process were required. It is worth noting that, the use of slave labor to cultivate a fresh soil is more profitable than the use of free men in the cultivation of an exhausted land. However, the use of slave labor was the option at the earlier stages of development of colonies, although slaved labor was unskillful, given reluctantly, and lacks versatility (Eltis, 2000). Moreover, use of slave labor were not moral but
The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), also known as the Wagner Act, was enacted in Congress in 1935 and became one of the most important legacies of the New Deal. Prior to the passage of the NLRA, employers had been free to spy on, interrogate, discipline, discharge, and blacklist union members. Reversing years of federal opposition, the statute guaranteed the right of employees to organize labor unions, to engage in collective bargaining, and to take part in strikes. The act also created a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to arbitrate deadlocked labor-management disputes, guarantee democratic union elections, and penalize unfair labor practices by employers. The law applied to all employees involved in the interstate
An egalitarian is someone who believes that not only should women be equal to men, but everyone should be equal to everyone and the only thing that separates us is our merits and the things that we have worked to achieve in life. That is why I am and always will be an egalitarian.
In her book, Labor and Legality: An Ethnography of a Mexican Immigrant Network, Ruth Gomberg-Muñoz describes the lives of ten busboys, she referrs to as the Lions, living and working in the Chicago area. Gomberg-Muñoz provides an insight into the lives of these undocumented Mexican workers. They share their stories of crossing the border, the affects of their absence on family back in Mexico, and the daily struggles of living in a country without the benefits of citizenship. The Lions, as well as other undocumented Mexicans, have to face Americans stereotypes every day. Probably the biggest stereotype the Lions contend with is the belief that all Mexicans are hard workers.
The following paper will introduce the house bill number 4266 titled Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2015. This bill attempts to lessen nurse injuries by investing in safe patient handling and mobilization technologies and education programs. This paper will provide a background on the bill. Next, the bill will be summarized and analyzed using Malone’s (2005) framework. The paper will next discuss ethical considerations, mainly focusing on utilitarianism and nonmaleficence to highlight both the pros and cons of the policy present by the house. A section is included on nurse support for the bill by the American Nurses Association, and finally a personal reflection.
Labor Unions have had an effect of American history as well as world-wide history from the time they became popular. Following WWII Americans were predominantly pro-labor, however, as time went on union’s credibility fell short of perfect. Union strikes proved to be bothersome to both the general public and company. Unions were also suppressing to employees through fraud and lack of worker rights (in earlier years, before Acts were passed). Although Union labor had its shortcomings, this type of labor is noted to be the most productive and economically beneficial. With both sides shown, I feel Unions will again thrive in the future with a few key adjustments made.
What is the Fair Labor Standards Act? The Fair Labor Standards Act is better known as the FLSA. The FLSA established a maximum hour work week, a minimum wage pay, overtime pay, and child labor laws. Many people are aware of the basic FLSA parts but big changes have come.
The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor is a regional labor organization in the state of Los Angeles that has evolved representation of the interests of workers to include political involvement. Its formation was a function of political influence in labor and the relevance of merging labor movements to have better representations and high compulsion among leaders (Dean et al., 2009). The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, as the name suggests, is a composite labor body formed after the merging of all labor bodies in Los Angeles.
Additionally, Section 8 proscribes federation fraudulent labor procedures, which include, in accordance to legal interpretation, failure to provide a reasonable representation to all participants of the bargaining constituent. (Office of the General Counsel, National Labor Relations Board, 1997)
For decades, the railroad industry was in a period of great economic political, and industrial changes in the United States. The industrial boom was taking its toll on the United States, and the widespread violent work stoppages were detrimental to the railroad industry due to tensions escalating between unions and workers. President Calvin Coolidge was strongly vocal about the issue and urged railroads and unions to recommend legislation to improve relations and ultimately reduce the threat of any railroad shutdowns. As a response, railroads and unions immediately drafted legislation, which in hopes would improve labor and union relations. On May 20, 1029, President Coolidge signed and designated the new law as the Railway Labor Act of 1926. Coined one of the most significant and longest lasting pieces of legislation, the Railway Labor Act provides a mechanism through which labor disputes between railroads and currently airlines, could be handled in a peaceful, non-disruptive manner. The Railway Labor Act of 1926 is unique unlike other legislations because it ensures no interruption to commerce, provides an unhindered right of employees to join a labor union, guarantees independence of an organization to enact the RLA, assists in work rules and working conditions, and assists in a prompt and orderly settlement of disputes.
In the history of the United States many laws have been established. These laws serve as guidelines of behaviors that are acceptable and unacceptable in society. The Fair Labor Standards Act is considered to be an important law because it affects employers and employees in the private sector, Federal, State and local government. It sets labor standards that employers must abide and comes with severe penalties if employers are investigated and found guilty of violating this law.
The Fair Labor Standards Act sets the minimum wage rate and requires employers to pay employees overtime for any hours worked over 40 per week. The Fair Labor Standards Act also requires employers to pay employees one and one-half times their regular pay per hour for overtime hours worked. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act jobs are either exempt on non-exempt. Non-exempt employees are entitled to overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Exempt employees are not covered under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act an exempt employee is entitled to receive their base salary. In order for an employee to be considered exempt the employee must earn at least $455 per week and paid on a salary basis along with performing
Is the new Employment Standards Act improving or deceasing from the old Employment Standards Act legislation? I think the new Employment Standards Act (ESA) is improving from the original legislation, especially in relation to Leaves, Overtime and Wages. First, lets talk about old legislation of leaves from the ESA. When people have a personal emergency, death of the family, have a child or if you are sick, they all count as leaves. They are called Personal emergency leave and family caregiver/medical leave. Personal emergency leave is 10 days off and you don’t get paid. In order to qualify, the employer must a least employed 50 employees. Family caregiver leave is more like taking care of your family (job protection). It gives you time off from work to give you care and support to
Discrimination occurs when an employee suffers from unfavorable or unfair treatment due to their race, religion, national origin, disabled or veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Employees who have suffered reprisals for opposing workplace discrimination or for reporting violations to the authorities are also considered to be discriminated against. Federal law prohibits discrimination in work-related areas, such as recruiting, hiring, job evaluations, promotion policies, training, compensation and disciplinary action. (employeeissues.com, 2006)
The legally required employee benefits constitute nearly a quarter of the benefits package that employers provide. These benefits include employer contributions to Social Security, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation insurance. Altogether such benefits represent about twenty-one and half percent of payroll costs.