The Wage and Hour Division mission is to promote and achieve compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of the nation's workforce. We are committed to ensuring that workers in this country are paid properly and for all the hours they work.
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor standards affecting most full-time and part-time workers in the private sector and in federal, state, and local governments.
The right to take unpaid leave
Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) eligible employees of covered employers have the right to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons.
Federal child labor laws ensure that when young people work, the work is safe and does not jeopardize their health, well-being or educational opportunities.
The Wage and Hour Division helps all workers in the United States. We enforce the law without regard to a worker’s immigration status.
The H-2B provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provide for the admission of nonimmigrants to the U.S. to perform temporary non-agricultural labor or services.
The restaurant/fast food industry includes establishments which are primarily engaged in selling and serving to purchasers prepared food and beverages for consumption on or off the premises.
Quick Links
Essential Workers – Essential Protections
Resources for essential workers who are keeping our country moving forward during the COVID-19 pandemic.
How to File a Complaint
We have offices throughout the country with trained professionals to help you.
Misclassification of Employees as Independent Contractors
Workers Owed Wages
If you think you may be owed back wages collected by WHD, you can search our database of workers for whom we have money waiting to be claimed.
Worker Resources
A library of resources WHD offers to ensure that workers understand their rights under these laws and that they receive the wages and the protections to which they are entitled.
Resources in Other Languages
Find help in 20 languages.
Timesheet Mobile App
This app helps track regular work hours, break time, and overtime hours.
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