Abstract

The Fair Labor Standards Act is a document created in 1938 to protect workers in the United States. This literature review points to the idea that times have changed. The research presents a timeline to understand the fight for labor standards in the United States. Americans at one point in time were working 14-hour days leaving little to no room for anything else. The research presented offers context to working standards in America. The paper examines the Fair Labor Standards Act through a multi-perspective lens to understand how exactly the document meant to protect workers might be contributing to long working hours in the United States. Moreover, the United States stands out among developed nations for its long workweeks, raising concerns about worker well-being. Not only do Americans resort to higher working hours but there is also a culture of overwork. However, there has been a recent shift in working hours, where resignations hit an all-time high in 2022. This signals that American working culture can be problematic and should be restricted to become more conducive for United States workers and businesses. The solution proposed is to add a maximum number of working hours to the FLSA of 1938. The maximum number of hours proposed is 48 as this allows for flexibility while taking the burden off employees.

Semester/Year of Award

Spring 5-5-2024

Mentor

Michael Austin

Mentor Department Affiliation

History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies

Access Options

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Scholars

Degree Level

Bachelors

Department

Business

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