We often define ourselves by our work, with a frequent introductory question being, "What do you do?" Because we devote so much of our lives to our jobs, anything affecting them is of special concern to us. The federal government has assumed a role of protecting the rights of laborers, with the prime example being the Fair Labor Standards Act, which is the primary federal statute in the area of minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor. Since its adoption in 1938, the act has undergone several amendments and periodic changes. A constant issue is the level of the minimum wage, with many public officials and labor groups calling for its raise. Some though, have made proposals to weaken federal wage protection and exempt certain businesses from the law. Heated debate continues on both sides of this topic, which so closely impacts a significant portion of the population. Federal oversight of labor and work conditions is a fact of life, and the standards by which authorities fulfill this task need to be understood. This book studies the history behind and application of the Fair Labor Standards Act in its three distinct areas of minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor. As a people who so intimately tie ourselves to careers and work, the information this book holds becomes necessary to developing a clear vision of how the government influences the "workaday world."
