Wages, Hours and Fair Labor Standards
Legal Information
This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Wages, Hours and Fair Labor Standards issues in Pennsylvania.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Justice at Work Available to Assist Migrant Farmworkers
Justice at Work legal services is available to assist farmworkers, mushroom workers and food processing workers in PA and migrant farmworkers who have been employed in PA and have claims arising out of their employment in PA.
Minimum Wage and Overtime Complaint Form
This form from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry is used to file complaints under the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act of 1968. In an effort to expedite your complaint, the Bureau of Labor Law Compliance encourages you to take advantage of the online or electronic submission of the complaint form, but you may choose instead to return a hardcopy version of this form.
Wage Complaint Form
This form is used to file complaints under the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law. In an effort to expedite your complaint, the Bureau of Labor Law Compliance encourages you to take advantage of the online or electronic submission of the complaint form but you may also choose instead to return a hardcopy version of this form.
How to File a Case in Philadelphia Small Claims Court
Explanation of the Small Claims Court process in Philadelphia from Philadelphia Legal Assistance as outlined in a brochure from the Philadelphia Municipal Court.
How to Sue At the Office of the Magisterial District Judge
Information from MidPenn Legal Services on how to file suit on small claims in your local Office of the Magisterial District Judge. (July 2012)
Magisterial District Judge Court - Filing Suit
This information from Northwestern Legal Services provides instructions on how to file a lawsuit in Magisterial District Judge Court.
Downloadable Forms from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
Links to downloadable forms from the PA Department of Labor and Industry.
Minimum Wage and Overtime Complaint Form
This form from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry is used to file complaints under the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act of 1968. In an effort to expedite your complaint, the Bureau of Labor Law Compliance encourages you to take advantage of the online or electronic submission of the complaint form, but you may choose instead to return a hardcopy version of this form.
Wage Complaint Form
This form is used to file complaints under the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law. In an effort to expedite your complaint, the Bureau of Labor Law Compliance encourages you to take advantage of the online or electronic submission of the complaint form but you may also choose instead to return a hardcopy version of this form.
Federal Court Finder
Find a federal court location by location or court name, including appellate, district, bankruptcy, probation and pretrial office, or federal defender organization. Each District Court has its own local forms which are generally available on the Court website.
How to File a Case in Philadelphia Small Claims Court
Explanation of the Small Claims Court process in Philadelphia from Philadelphia Legal Assistance as outlined in a brochure from the Philadelphia Municipal Court.
Wages and Hours
Information from Neighborhood Legal Services Association on wage and hour issues including how to file a complaint.
How to File a Case in Philadelphia Small Claims Court
Explanation of the Small Claims Court process in Philadelphia from Philadelphia Legal Assistance as outlined in a brochure from the Philadelphia Municipal Court.
How to Sue At the Office of the Magisterial District Judge
Information from MidPenn Legal Services on how to file suit on small claims in your local Office of the Magisterial District Judge. (July 2012)
Magisterial District Judge Court - Filing Suit
This information from Northwestern Legal Services provides instructions on how to file a lawsuit in Magisterial District Judge Court.
Pennsylvania Employment Law Information (Audio-MP3)
Episode of Northwestern Legal Services' "Access to Justice" Radio show broadcast on JET 1400 AM in Erie, PA on 5/31/07. information on PA Employment Law such as wage cases and barriers to employment such as a criminal record. (28:08)
Small Claims Court
Information from the Erie County Bar Association on the operation of the Magisterial District Court in Pennsylvania.
Wage and Hours Issues
Information on wage and hour issues from the Erie County Bar Association
Do You Need a Court Interpreter? (Video)
This video from the PA Courts explains how to request a court interpreter; what to expect; how to communicate with court staff outside the courtroom; and who is qualified to be a court interpreter.
If You Are A Farm Worker
Booklet from Social Security which provides farm workers with information about how Social Security can help you and your family, the importance of your Social Security number, how your boss reports your earnings, and how to make sure your earnings are reported correctly. (June 2021)
Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA)
Information on the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) from the United States Department of Labor. The MSPA protects migrant and seasonal agricultural workers by establishing employment standards related to wages, housing, transportation, disclosures and recordkeeping.
Wage Statement (MSPA)
Properly filled out, this optional form will satisfy the requirements of sections 201 (d), (e), and (g) and sections 301 (c), (d), and (f) of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA). This forms also satisfies statutory requirements under section 11 (c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Frequently Asked Questions - Minimum Wage
Quick answers to commonly asked questions about the minimum wage from the United States Department of Labor.
General Wage & Hour Questions
Frequently asked questions from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry on wage & hour requirements in Pennsylvania.
Questions and Answers about the Minimum Wage
Questions and Answers from the United States Department of Labor about the Minimum Wage
Downloadable Forms from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
Links to downloadable forms from the PA Department of Labor and Industry.
Fact Sheet #40: Overview of Youth Employment (Child Labor) Provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for Agricultural Occupations
This booklet from the United States Department of Labor provides information about the legal protections that apply to children working in farm jobs. [PDF] (December 2016)
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Minimum Wage Poster
Poster from the United States Department of Labor outlining current minimum wage requirements.
Minimum Wage and Overtime Complaint Form
This form from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry is used to file complaints under the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act of 1968. In an effort to expedite your complaint, the Bureau of Labor Law Compliance encourages you to take advantage of the online or electronic submission of the complaint form, but you may choose instead to return a hardcopy version of this form.
Minimum Wage Law Summary
This summary from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry sets forth the Minimum Wage and Overtime Rate for employees. It also sets forth compliance-related duties for the Department of Labor & Industry and for employers. [PDF]
Pennsylvania's Minimum Wage Law
Information from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry about Pennsylvania's minimum wage requirements, effective January 2007.
Wage and Hour Fact Sheets
Fact Sheets from the United States Department of Labor on a variety of topics relating to wage and hour issues.
Wage Complaint Form
This form is used to file complaints under the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law. In an effort to expedite your complaint, the Bureau of Labor Law Compliance encourages you to take advantage of the online or electronic submission of the complaint form but you may also choose instead to return a hardcopy version of this form.
Fair Labor Standards Act Advisor
The Fair Labor Standards Act Advisor, from the United States Department of Labor, provides employers and employees with the information they need to understand Federal minimum wage, overtime, child labor and recordkeeping requirements. The child labor section answers questions from youth, parents, teachers and employers about Federal child labor rules. This Advisor was developed by the Wage and Hour Division.
Fair Labor Standards Act Advisor - Frequently Asked Questions
These Questions and Answers are part of the FLSA Advisor of the United States Department of Labor. The Advisor helps you learn more about the minimum wage, overtime pay, child labor and record keeping laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor.
The Employment of Workers with Disabilities at Special Minimum Wages
Fact Sheet from United States Department of Labor is on Section 14(c) of the FLSA which authorizes employers, after receiving a certificate from the Wage and Hour Division, to pay special minimum wages, less than the Federal minimum wage, to workers who have disabilities. [PDF] (July 2008)
Wage and Hour Division, U.S. Department of Labor
Website of the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor.
Know Your Rights: Migrant and Seasonal Work (Video)
The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has developed the “Know Your Rights” video series in English and Spanish to provide workers with useful basic information in different scenarios that workers encounter in the workplace. This video provides important information for seasonal and migrant workers.
PA Courts Public Access Policy - Filing Requirements in the Courts (Video)
Effective on January 6, 2018, a new Public Access Policy is in effect in Pennsylvania Courts. This policy imposes requirements on anyone filing court documents in the trial and appellate courts to safeguard information in the documents they file. The Pennsylvania Courts have released this series of videos that explain the judiciary’s new policy for protecting confidential information and the required steps you must take to protect that information when filing documents in the courts.
National Employment Law Project
Website of the National Employment Law Project. The Project works to promote policies and programs that create good jobs, strengthen upward mobility, enforce hard-won worker rights, and help unemployed workers regain their economic footing through improved benefits and services.
How to File a Case in Philadelphia Small Claims Court
Explanation of the Small Claims Court process in Philadelphia from Philadelphia Legal Assistance as outlined in a brochure from the Philadelphia Municipal Court.