Arkansas Minimum Wage and Overtime Laws Explained

A hundred years ago, business owners sometimes made their employees work long hours for very little pay.  Arkansas labor law changed to reflect new minimum wage and overtime laws.  These laws were once considered revolutionary, but are now an accepted part of business in Arkansas. Whether you are an employer or an employee, it is important to understand how these laws apply to you.

Minimum Wage

In 1955, a Mickey Mouse lunchbox was 88 cents and the minimum wage was 75 cents an hour.  In 2009, the federal minimum wage was set at its current level of $7.25 an hour.  In much the same way that Goldilocks evaluated her napping options, this amount has been decreed as either too low or just right. Some decry the minimum wage as too low, as the annual income it provides (roughly $12,500 in Arkansas[-1] ) is below the poverty line for households with two or more people.  Others pontificate that the minimum wage is a fair wage for an entry-level position, and that it is each worker’s individual responsibility to work his or her way up the salary ladder. Whatever your opinion, as an employer or an employee, it is important to understand your rights under the law.

Overtime

In much the same way, overtime laws try to strike a balance between the divergent financial interests of labor and management.  Overtime laws generally apply to any work performed over 40 hours in a week, which must be paid at time-and-a-half ($10.875 for the minimum wage earner).  Some workers are exempt from the overtime law, which means they are ineligible to receive time-and-a-half.  Most (but not all) employees are exempt if they earn at least $23,600 per year, are paid on a salary basis and perform exempt job duties.  Other special exemptions may apply to other workers.

A skilled labor attorney can make all the difference

Arkansas labor laws are designed to protect both labor and management.  If you belong in either category and you think your rights may have been violated, it is essential that you obtain the right legal help.

Contact a knowledgeable Arkansas labor law attorney today

Hiring the attorneys of the Sanford Law Firm partners you with hard-working, creative attorneys ― highly motivated to win your case.  Flexible, we strive to meet your personal goals for your case.  Call our firm and discover friendly, accessible, attentive attorneys ready to face your legal challenge head-on.