EMD Sales, Inc. v. Carrera: Preserving the Integrity of the FLSA

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was enacted in 1938 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of the New Deal to protect workers from exploitative labor practices. It established a federal minimum wage, required overtime pay for employees working more than 40 hours per week, and imposed child labor restrictions. Over time, the law has been amended to expand protections and adjust wage standards. However, the FLSA also includes several exemptions, meaning certain workers are not entitled to overtime pay. Among them are bona fide executives, agricultural workers, and outside salesmen—employees who primarily work away from their employer’s place of business. The recent Supreme Court ruling in EMD Sales, Inc. v. Carrera (2025) reaffirms this important exemption and ensures that the legal standard for classification remains consistent and reasonable.