2013 Marks 75th Anniversary of FLSA

This year marks 75 years since the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was passed. Although most workers have benefitted from this and other anti-discrimination legislation, many employees still suffer from discrimination and other work place inequities. The FLSA is pro-worker legislation that sets forth certain minimum wage and overtime standards applicable to virtually all U.S. employers. Although the FLSA covers a number of different areas, including child labor laws, two key provisions of the FLSA impact just about every employee who works for a wage in this country: (1) the minimum wage provision and (2) the overtime provision. Pursuant to the FLSA, all non-exempt workers are entitled to overtime pay at a rate of one and one-half times their typical rate of pay.

If you have questions about wage and hour laws, or believe that you have not been paid all that you deserve, it is important to consult with an experienced Atlanta wage and hour lawyer right away.

According to the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor, despite important work place advances many workers still lack protections such as those set forth in the family and medical leave act (FMLA). In fact, one a chief economist explained that paid leave is necessary to protect the millions of Americans every year who are forced to file for bankruptcy due to their illness or the illness of a family member. The representative further explained that the FMLA fails many working American families in two important ways. First, because of restrictions setting forth who is covered by the FMLA, many workers are not covered by the act. Close to half of all FMLA-eligible employees who need leave don’t take it, primarily because of the cost. Further, the lack of paid leave tends to disproportionately affect lower income works. This disparity is even more dramatic for women.

As attorneys dedicated to helping workers, we are excited to acknowledge this important milestone but also understand we have much more to accomplish. For more information about the FLSA or other employment discrimination laws, or if you believe you may are not getting all the wages you are entitled to, please contact the top Georgia FLSA attorneys Buckley Bala Wilson Mew LLP for an immediate case evaluation.