ABA Family Legal Guide

Law and the Workplace

Federal Laws Regulating the Workplace

What types of employers are covered under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ?

The FLSA generally covers a private employer if at least two employees are engaged in interstate commerce activities and if the annual volume of business is at least $500,000. It also covers hospitals, educational institutions, and state and federal public employers. Moreover, it covers individual employees who are engaged in interstate commerce activities even if their employer does not gross $500,000 a year. Remember that state laws regulating minimum wages, overtime, and child labor may cover employers not covered by federal law.