Online Class: Fair Standards Labor Act and the Workforce

Signed into law along with the rest of the New Deal by FDR in 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act is perhaps the single most important piece of America legislation with regards to worker's rights.

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  • 15
    Lessons
  • 17
    Exams &
    Assignments
  • 232
    Students
    have taken this course
  • 6
    Hours
    average time
  • 0.6
    CEUs
 
 

Course Description

Empowering the Workforce: The Pivotal Role of the Fair Labor Standards Act

The 20th century bore witness to some of the most transformative events in American history. Among these, the New Deal's Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938 stands as a beacon of hope and a testament to the nation's commitment to social justice and workers' rights. Enacted under the visionary leadership of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the FLSA wasn't just another piece of legislation; it was a revolution, a societal shift that sought to right the wrongs meted out to America's labor force during the trying times of the Great Depression.

This groundbreaking legislation has left an indelible mark on the fabric of American society. The establishment of the minimum wage under the FLSA wasn't merely about assigning a monetary value to an hour's labor. It recognized the inherent dignity of work and ensured that every American could expect a fair wage for a fair day's work, thus laying the foundation for the modern-day living wage movement.

Furthermore, the act's introduction of overtime pay not only sculpted the 40-hour workweek framework but also redefined work-life balance, a concept previously overshadowed by exploitative work hours.

Perhaps most poignantly, the act brought an end to the dark days of child labor, a grim era where innocence was traded for productivity in the gloomy confines of factories.

This course doesn't just recount historical facts; it takes you on a riveting journey through the corridors of power, struggle, and change. Delve deep into the intricacies of the FLSA, explore the vigilant guardianship of the Department of Labor, and understand the intricate tapestry of labor laws that shape the modern workplace.

Are you ready to immerse yourself in a narrative that spans the highs and lows of the American labor movement, a story where hope triumphs over despair, where the future is forged by understanding the past? Enroll now and become part of the dialogue on the evolution and future of workers' rights.

  • Completely Online
  • Self-Paced
  • Printable Lessons
  • Full HD Video  
  • 6 Months to Complete
  • 24/7 Availability
  • Start Anytime
  • PC & Mac Compatible
  • Android & iOS Friendly
  • Accredited CEUs
Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider
 

Course Lessons

Average Lesson Rating:
4.8 / 5 Stars (Average Rating)
"Extraordinarily Helpful"
(564 votes)

Lesson 1: Introduction to the Fair Labor Standards Act

The struggle between labor and capital has been a constant source of conflict within our modern economic landscape, but that struggle is far from new. Go back as far as you can in history and the same struggles play out in different economic systems. Additional lesson topics: Who is Covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act?; The FLSA; United States v. Darby, 312 U.S. 100 1941 12 Total Points
  • Lesson 1 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Reasons for Taking this Course
  • Complete Assignment: Motives for Taking this Course
  • Assessment: Lesson 1 Quiz

Lesson 2: The Role of the DOL and the FLSA

Signing a bill into law doesn't mean that it suddenly is made the case across the country. Laws mean nothing without enforcement and the same is true for the Fair Labor Standards Act. The part of the government responsible for enforcing the FLSA is known as the Department of Labor or the DOL. Additional lesson topics: DOL Agencies; Summary of the Major Laws of the Department of Labor; U.S. Department of Labor What It Does for You 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 2 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 2 Quiz

Lesson 3: Fair Labor Standards Act Principles

Every law is made up of two existential parts--the letter of the law, and the spirit of the law. Laws are written to address a need. Legislators have a specific goal or a societal issue that must be fixed, and they write the law with the intention of accomplishing that goal or fixing and/or mitigating that societal issue. Additional lesson topics: Understanding some of the basic but often misinterpreted principles of the FLSA; Fair Labor Standards Act in United States History; Principles of Labor Law 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 3 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 3 Quiz

Lesson 4: Time-of-Payment Requirements

The Fair Labor Standards Act dictates more than just simply the wages paid or the overtime increase. There are specific clauses in the law that also dictate a number of aspects around how you can get paid. Additional lesson topics: Regular Rate – FLSA; Several Types of Payment You Might Consider for Employees; Wages and Time of Payment; Wage and Hour Division WHD 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 4 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 4 Quiz

Lesson 5: The Minimum Wage

For most people, the minimum wage requirements are the most well-known part of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Overtime pay is something that is not only very conditional, but also something that is only afforded to full time workers, which are becoming more and more rare as businesses choose to hire more part time employees. Additional lesson topics: Exceptions to The Federal Minimum Wage Law; History of Minimum Wage; Why We Need A Minimum Wage; An Economist's Several Objections to the Minimum Wage 9 Total Points
  • Lesson 5 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 5 Quiz

Lesson 6: Child Labor

In modern times America, the idea of children being forced to work is completely unacceptable. There is an understanding that children are vulnerable and easily exploited, and that to force them to work is not only potentially dangerous and bad for their health, it also interferes with a child's proper development and robs them of having a true childhood. Additional lesson topics: Youth and Labor; History of child labor in the United States—part 1: little children working; Exceptions to Child Labor Laws 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 6 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 6 Quiz

Lesson 7: Overtime Pay

Per the provisions set forth by the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers are required to pay overtime pay to any employees who work more than 40 hours in one week. Additional lesson topics: Overtime Exemptions; Your Step-by-Step Guide to Calculating Overtime Pay; Exempt vs Non-Exempt Employees 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 7 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 7 Quiz

Lesson 8: Basic Hours Worked Issues

Many of the issues that employers and employees will run into involving hours worked are about the day to day actions of employees. Additional lesson topics: Unapproved Hours Worked and Time and Attendance Policies; Irregular Work Scheduling and Its Consequences; Did You Bring Your Ethics to Work Today?; Do I Get Paid for Mandatory Meetings?; Managing Employee Attendance 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 8 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 8 Quiz

Lesson 9: Exceptions and Unusual Cases

Due to the complex nature of different types of employment, it has not proven possible for the hourly pay and overtime provisions set down by the Fair Labor Standards Act to be 100% applicable to all situations. Additional lesson topics: Fair Labor Standards Act – When sleeping time is considered hours worked; Extended Unusual Work Shifts; Requirements For A Valid Belo Contract Under The Federal Fair Labor Standards Act 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 9 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 9 Quiz

Lesson 10: Federal vs. State Protections

Labor laws present an interesting exception to the way that things are usually conducted between the federal and state level governments. Normally, federal laws supersede state laws wherever relevant. Additional lesson topics: What is the Difference Between State vs. Federal Laws for Employment Disputes?; The Differences between Federal, State, and Local Laws; Do State Labor Laws Supercede Federal Labor Laws? 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 10 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 10 Quiz

Lesson 11: Compensatory Time-Off

Comp time is actually a relatively recent addition to the laws regarding overtime payments. An amendment to the FLSA was passed in 1985 that allowed public employers to offer comp time to their employees instead of the regularly mandated pay for overtime that they had been previously due. Additional lesson topics: Everything You Need to Know About Comp Time; ‘Comp Time’: The OTHER Form Of Overtime Compensation; Can An Employer Pay Comp Time Instead of Overtime? 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 11 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 11 Quiz

Lesson 12: The Section 207(K) Exemption Rules

Employees who are employed by the state, whether they are at the local, state, or federal level, are still considered to be workers by the Fair Labor Standards Act. The FLSA still requires that public employees be paid at least minimum wage, except for the youth minimum wage exception, in addition to time and a half for any overtime hours that the public employees have worked. Additional lesson topics: Private Sector vs. Public Sector Employee Rights; What Does It Take to ‘Establish’ A Section 207 k Exemption?; Fact Sheet: Guidance on Applying FLSA Overtime Provisions to Law Enforcement Employees Receiving Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime Pay 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 12 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 12 Quiz

Lesson 13: Employers and Employees Who are Exempt

Generally, the Fair Labor Standards Act will apply to most workers. It is designed to be a wide reaching protection for laborers against being exploited, and it wouldn't be very effective at that if it didn't cover most workers. Additional lesson topics: It Takes Two: Exempt Employees Must Meet Both Salary and Duties Tests; Difference Between an Exempt and a Non-Exempt Employee; Exemptions- Fair Labor Standards Act Advisor; Complying With the FLSA Overtime Rules: The Duties Test 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 13 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 13 Quiz

Lesson 14: Record Keeping Requirements

Easily the least impressive aspect of the original Fair Labor Standards Act is the record keeping requirements. The minimum wage was revolutionary, establishing the idea that people should be able to live comfortably off their work, and not just be used as disposable labor. Additional lesson topics: Several aspects that should be included in your employment contract; How to Comply with Payroll Record-Keeping Requirements; Recordkeeping Requirements; Compliance Assistance 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 14 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 14 Quiz

Lesson 15: Consequences of Violations

Without consequences, laws are meaningless. For many years now, authorities simply choosing not to enforce a law has been a form of nullifying outdated or unjust laws. Jury nullification, too, is an accepted practice of citizens choosing not to enforce a law in a particular instance. 84 Total Points
  • Lesson 15 Video
  • Lesson discussions: End of Course Poll; Course Comments; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course)
  • Assessment: Lesson 15 Quiz
  • Assessment: The Final Exam
225
Total Course Points
 

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  • Define the Fair Labor Standards Act.
  • Define the role of the DOL and the FLSA.
  • Describe the Fair Labor Standards Act principles.
  • Summarize time-of-payment requirements.
  • Summarize the minimum wage regulations.
  • Summarize child labor regulations.
  • Summarize overtime pay regulations and basic hours worked issues.
  • Summarize exceptions and unusual cases.
  • Describe state protections.
  • Recognize compensatory time-off.
  • Describe the section 207(k) exemption rules.
  • Describe record keeping requirements.
  • Summarize consequences of violations.
  • Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
 

Additional Course Information

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Course Title: Fair Standards Labor Act and the Workforce
Course Number: 9770531
Lessons Rating: 4.8 / 5 Stars (564 votes)
Languages: English - United States, Canada and other English speaking countries
Availability: This course is online and available in all 50 states including: California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas.
Last Updated: August 2023
Course Type: Self-Paced, Online Class
CEU Value: 0.6 IACET CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
CE Accreditation: Universal Class, Inc. has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
Grading Policy: Earn a final grade of 70% or higher to receive an online/downloadable CEU Certification documenting CEUs earned.
Assessment Method: Lesson assignments and review exams
Instructor: Linda Zavadil
Syllabus: View Syllabus
Course Fee: $120.00 U.S. dollars

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