Labor and Employment Law
This Web site provides information about the Commonwealth of Virginia's
labor and employment laws. The Federal Fair Labor Standards Act ("F.L.S.A.")
governs the federal minimum wage law, time-and-a-half overtime law and
other labor laws. If the employer falls under the jurisdiction of the
F.L.S.A. (most employers do), you may wish to also consult the Web site
for the United States Department
of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division.
If you have a question about whether your employer falls under the jurisdiction
of the F.L.S.A., contact the Wage
and Hour Division.
The Virginia Labor and Employment Law program enforces the Payment
of Wage Act and protects other important rights including minimum wage, and the right to work. Through our child labor programs,
we help ensure that young people have the opportunity to work in jobs
[see Guide
for the Employment of Teenagers (English) | Guía
para el empleo de adolescentes (Spanish)] that do not endanger them
or interfere with their education. The Department is also the designated
agency to mediate and conciliate labor disputes under Virginia
Code § 40.1-70.
The Labor and Employment Law Division investigates complaints alleging
violations of the labor laws listed below, conducts informal conferences
with employers to settle disputes, prepares final orders for unpaid
wages and assesses civil money penalties against employers to gain compliance,
assists in civil or criminal court actions against employers to gain
compliance, and administers the work permit program for 14 and 15 year-old
minors employed in the Commonwealth.