• Train supervisors to adhere to FLSA regulations and communicate expectations to employees.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards affecting employees in the private sector and in Federal, State, and local governments. Supervisors should understand the dangers of bending rules to keep budgets in line.

Supervisors might be tempted to:

• Pay straight time for overtime hours,
• Refuse to pay unauthorized time, and/or
• Give off-book comp time.

Train supervisors to:

• Remind employees to ask permission to work overtime,
• Communicate schedules,
• Cross-train staff to eliminate overtime, and
• Use discipline as final resort.

For additional information on federal and state laws, see the Wage and Hour subject.