Wage labor and the Fair Labor Standards Act in the United States (1938–1960s)

1. Roosevelt signs the Fair Labor Standards Act

   Jun 25, 1938Labels: Franklin D, Fair Labor

   • DOL History
   • Wikipedia

2. FLSA rules take effect nationwide

   Oct 24, 1938Labels: Fair Labor, Federal enforcement

   • AFT
   • Britannica

3. First scheduled cut to 42-hour workweek

   Oct 24, 1939Labels: Fair Labor, 42-hour week

   • Michigan Daily
   • Britannica

4. 40-hour overtime threshold becomes standard

   Oct 24, 1940Labels: 40-hour week, Fair Labor

   • Michigan Daily
   • FRASER BLS

5. Supreme Court upholds FLSA in United States v. Darby

   Feb 3, 1941Labels: United States, Supreme Court

   • Oyez
   • Justia

6. Portal-to-Portal Act limits certain back-pay claims

   May 14, 1947Labels: Portal-to-Portal Act, Congress

   • Truman Library
   • Wikipedia

7. 1949 amendments raise minimum wage to 75 cents

   Oct 26, 1949Labels: 1949 amendments, Minimum wage

   • DOL Wage
   • Wikipedia

8. New 75-cent minimum wage becomes effective

   Jan 24, 1950Labels: Minimum wage, Effective date

   • Wikipedia
   • DOL Wage

9. 1955 amendments become law, setting $1 minimum

   Aug 12, 1955Labels: 1955 amendments, Minimum wage

   • Congress gov
   • DOL Wage

10. $1.00 federal minimum wage takes effect

    Mar 1, 1956Labels: Minimum wage, Effective date

    • Wikipedia
    • Congress gov

11. 1961 amendments introduce broader “enterprise coverage”

    May 5, 1961Labels: 1961 amendments, Enterprise coverage

    • LII TOPN
    • DOL Wage

12. 1966 amendments expand coverage to new sectors

    Sep 23, 1966Labels: 1966 amendments, Enterprise coverage

    • Congress gov
    • National Archives