Wage and hour laws in the United States ensure that all workers are paid a fair wage. These laws encompass a wide variety of regulations for employers including limits on the number of hours minors can work, requirements that employees be paid for all working time, and specifications about when overtime must be paid and at what rates. These laws also stipulate when a worker is to be considered an employee and when he or she may be considered an independent contractor, which can have a major impact on wage adjustments. To learn more about the various wage and hour laws that are in place and for details on how they apply to you as a worker, refer to the articles and answers to frequently asked questions in this section.