DECA Human Resources Management Practice Exam

What is the primary purpose of the Fair Labor Standards Act?

1. To provide minimum wage and overtime pay standards

2. To regulate hiring practices for government jobs

3. To promote equal employment opportunities

4. To ensure workplace safety measures are in place

The correct answer is: To provide minimum wage and overtime pay standards

The primary purpose of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is to establish minimum wage and overtime pay standards, ensuring that workers receive fair compensation for their labor. By setting a minimum wage, the FLSA aims to protect workers from being paid less than a living wage, thus promoting economic stability. Additionally, it outlines regulations regarding overtime pay, which requires employers to pay employees time-and-a-half for hours worked beyond a standard 40-hour workweek. This aspect of the law is designed to discourage excessively long work hours without proper compensation, thereby safeguarding the welfare of workers and ensuring they are fairly rewarded for their efforts. The other options, while important in their own right, do not align with the primary goals of the FLSA. Regulating hiring practices for government jobs, promoting equal employment opportunities, and ensuring workplace safety are addressed by other laws and regulations, but they fall outside the specific purview of the Fair Labor Standards Act.