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Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) — Payroll Definition
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) paystub meaning: The federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor standards.
The federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor standards.
The FLSA is the primary federal law governing wages and hours in the US. Key provisions: (1) Federal minimum wage ($7.25/hr, though most states are higher), (2) Overtime at 1.5x for hours beyond 40/week for non-exempt employees, (3) Equal pay for equal work, (4) Child labor restrictions, and (5) Record-keeping requirements. The FLSA covers most private-sector employees. Common FLSA violations include misclassifying employees as exempt, not paying overtime, and requiring off-the-clock work.
Payroll and labor-law terms can vary by jurisdiction and by the facts of a particular job. This definition is an orientation, not legal advice; current federal, state, local, union, and employer rules may all matter.
When this term appears on a statement, read its label, current amount, year-to-date amount, pay-period context, and any adjacent rate or hours together. Resolve a mismatch with the original issuer or the cited authority rather than changing a record to force a preferred result.
Related terms
- Minimum Wage — The lowest hourly rate an employer can legally pay — $7.25 federal, but higher in most states.
- Overtime Pay (OT) — Pay at 1.5x your regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 per week (FLSA requirement).
- Exempt Employee — A salaried worker not eligible for overtime pay under FLSA (must meet salary and duties tests).
- Non-Exempt Employee — A worker who IS eligible for overtime pay (time-and-a-half over 40 hours/week).