What Are wage and hour laws?
Understanding and complying with wage and hour laws is essential to ensure that employees are paid fairly and in accordance with labor regulations. This chapter will provide an overview of wage and hour law and how it affects your business.
What is wage and hour?
Wage and hour refers to the laws and regulations that set the minimum wage and overtime pay, as well as regulations concerning other aspects of employment, such as breaks, holidays, vacation, sick leave, and child labor. The purpose of wage and hour laws is to ensure that employees receive fair compensation for their work and are treated fairly in the workplace.
Wage and hour laws protect workers by setting standards for the minimum wage, overtime pay, and other employment-related issues. These laws ensure that employers pay their employees a fair wage, provide safe working conditions, and comply with other labor standards.
Employers must keep accurate records of hours worked and wages paid for each employee, including the employee’s name, address, and occupation, the hours worked each day, total hours worked each week, total wages paid each pay period, and all deductions made from the employee’s wages.
Misclassification of employees as independent contractors is illegal because it allows employers to avoid paying certain taxes, benefits, and other protections that are legally required for employees. This practice also denies workers the right to overtime pay, minimum wage, and other benefits and protections.
Establishing minimum wage and overtime pay standards means that employers must pay employees a minimum wage as set by the federal or state government and must pay time-and-a-half for any hours worked beyond 40 hours in a workweek.
Why is wage and hour law necessary?
Wage and hour laws are necessary to ensure that all workers are compensated fairly for the work they do. These laws set minimum wage rates, regulate overtime pay, and establish limits on the hours an employee can work. They also protect workers from being taken advantage of by employers who may try to pay them below the legal minimum wage or require them to work excessive hours without proper compensation.
Wage and hour Common Mistakes
It is important for employers to be aware of the risks associated with wage and hour laws and take steps to ensure that they are in compliance. Here are some common mistakes to look out for:
Here are some myths to look out for:
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Failing to pay overtime
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Misclassifying employees
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Unpaid breaks
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Unauthorized deductions
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Improperly tracking hours
Protect your organization with wage and hour training
Protecting your organization with wage and hour training is an important step in preventing costly litigation and ensuring compliance with federal and state laws. With this training, organizations can ensure that their employees are fairly and accurately compensated for their work, and that their policies and practices comply with the law.
Helping over 8,000+ organizations create a safer, more inclusive company culture.
EasyLlama’s online training course guides employers to understanding the rights employees have in the workplace. There are many wage and hour laws, and each one is designed to provide employees with safeguards from a potentially hostile work environment. The course covers:
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