Exactly 75 years ago today, Franklin Delano Roosevelt may have experienced writer’s cramp. After all, he signed over 100 bills into law on that day, including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

The FLSA initially covered only about 20 percent of the workforce, setting standards for child labor, minimum wage ($.25 per hour) and a 44-hour maximum workweek. The FLSA has undergone several changes since then, but one thing remains the same: employers still struggle with complying with this law. Therefore, instead of providing a cake with 75 candles, we are paying respect to the FLSA by pointing out 7.5 frequent mistakes employers make:

1. Failing to pay for compensable breaks. You don’t have to pay workers for meal breaks that are at least 30 minutes long, but they must be completely relieved from work. Also, some time and attendance systems automatically deduct time for meal breaks, even when employees perform duties. Finally, rest breaks of 5-20 minutes are compensable.

2. Failing to pay for time worked away from the office. You must pay telecommuters for all hours worked. Non-exempt employees who check work-related voicemails and emails after hours are considered to be working and should be paid as well. Consider a policy that clearly sets out expectations in these areas.

Read full article in Infinisource Newsroom.