Which act is primarily associated with setting wage and hour standards?

• A. The Civil Rights Act
• B. The Occupational Safety and Health Act
• C. The National Labor Relations Act
• D. The Fair Labor Standards Act

Answer: (D)

Wage and hour standards are set by a federal law that establishes the basic pay and overtime rules for workers. This act introduced the federal minimum wage, requires overtime pay (usually time and a half) for nonexempt employees who work more than 40 hours in a workweek, and sets standards related to child labor. It’s administered by the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division and covers most private-sector employees and many public-sector workers. While other laws address different issues—such as protecting against workplace discrimination, ensuring safe working conditions, or protecting the right to organize—the law that directly governs how much workers must be paid and when overtime is due is the Fair Labor Standards Act. In practice, nonexempt workers must receive at least the minimum wage and overtime pay for hours beyond 40 in a week, with certain job classifications being exempt from these overtime rules.