Paying Less Than the Minimum Wage

Under certain conditions, wages lower than the minimum wage may be paid to some employees.

1. Tipped employees.
2. A training wage allows employers to pay $4.25 per hour to newly hired employees under 20 years of age (opportunity wage). This only applies to the first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment.
3. Retail or service establishments and farms may employ full-time students at 85 percent of the minimum wage ($6.1625 per hour, government rounds to $6.17 in favor of the employee).
4. Institutions of higher education may employ their own full-time students at 85 percent of the minimum wage.
5. Student-learners may be employed at 75 percent of the minimum wage if they are participating in a bona fide vocational training program conducted by an accredited school ($5.44 per hour).
6. Firms whose principal business is the delivery of letters and messages may employ messengers at not less than 95 percent of the minimum wage.
7. Persons whose earning capacity is impaired by age, physical or mental deficiency, or injury may be employed at special minimum wage rates. However, a certificate authorizing employment at such rates must first be obtained from the Department of Labors Wage and Hour Division.

Genna Cross, a full-time student at Kirby University, has been employed by The Boot Shop as a salesperson for over 4 months. Her hourly rate is $5.25. One week, Cross worked 33 hours.

Round your answers to the nearest cent.

a. Cross's earnings for the week are

b. Is the hourly rate in violation of the FLSA?

Yes or No

c. If the hourly rate is in violation of the FLSA, what is the amount The Boot Shop should pay Cross for the week? When computing the per hour rate, use the government's rounding rule in your calculation. $fill in the blank 3

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