The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) represents a significant piece of United States labor law. Its main provisions established minimum wage, overtime pay eligibility, recordkeeping, and child labor standards affecting full-time and part-time workers in the private sector and in Federal, State, and local governments. For an APUSH (Advanced Placement United States History) student, understanding this act requires recognizing it as a key element of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal legislation. The legislation addressed economic disparities and worker exploitation prevalent during the Great Depression.
The importance of the FLSA lies in its creation of a basic safety net for American workers. By setting a minimum wage, it aimed to provide a living wage and stimulate consumer spending. Overtime pay requirements discouraged employers from demanding excessive work hours without compensation, thus promoting a better work-life balance for employees. The restrictions on child labor sought to protect children from hazardous or exploitative work conditions, allowing them to prioritize education. The historical context reveals its departure from the laissez-faire economic policies that had previously dominated the American landscape, signifying increased government intervention in the economy and labor relations.