This toolkit provides resources to help employers understand their basic responsibilities under federal labor laws enforced and administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD). Some states have labor laws that afford workers additional rights and protections; employers must comply with both federal and state laws.
If you discover past wage or leave mistakes, the PAID program may be able to help.
What you should know
Here are a few key things employers should understand:
Many workers are protected (or "covered") by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which sets minimum wage, overtime, recordkeeping and child labor provisions in agriculture and non-agriculture occupations.
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons.
Employers must display specific workplace posters to inform employees of their rights.
The following three posters are required in most workplaces. Some employers have additional posting obligations under the laws we enforce. Click below for free printable versions of the posters.
Fair Labor Standards Act (PDF)
Learn more about how the laws we enforce apply to your business.
Industry-specific resources:
FLSA, FMLA, Migrant and Seasonal Agriculture Worker Protection Act (MSPA) and EPPA:
Basic information (PDF) – one page
Información básica (PDF) (español) – uno página
Introduction to all the laws we enforce (PDF) – 14 pages
Introducción a todas las leyes que aplicamos (PDF) (español) – 14 páginas
Handy Reference Guide to the FLSA (PDF) – 28 pages
Guía práctica referente la ley de normas justas de trabajo (PDF) (español) – 28 páginas
Employer Guide to the Family and Medical Leave Act (PDF) – 76 pages
Employee Guide to the Family and Medical Leave Act (PDF) – 20 pages
Guía del empleado de La Ley de Ausencia Familiar y Médica (PDF) (español) – 20 páginas
Still need more guidance? Ask us. WHD provides guidance on how laws apply to specific workplace situations. Request an Opinion Letter.
These are additional tips and resources to understand your responsibilities as an employer.
The FLSA prohibits retaliation against any employee who has filed a complaint or cooperated in an investigation.
Employers and employees can keep accurate records of hours on the job with our DOL-Timesheet App. It’s free and available in English and Spanish.
How to Get More Information
If you have questions or need additional information, contact us online or call 1-866-487-9243 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. in your time zone.
Last updated on September 8, 2025.