Labor & Employment Rights Timeline

Labor & Employment Rights – Timeline of Key Acts

U.S. labor and employment law has evolved over decades to protect workers’ rights, expand equality, and balance the power of employers and employees. Below is a timeline of the most impactful laws still shaping the workplace today.

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA, 1938)

  • Established the minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor protections.
  • Codified at 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.
  • Continues to be amended to adjust wage and hour standards.

Equal Pay Act (1963)

  • Amended the FLSA to require equal pay for equal work regardless of sex.
  • Foundation for modern pay equity litigation.

Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII)

  • Prohibited employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
  • Created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA, 1967)

  • Prohibited discrimination against workers age 40 and over.
  • Still a key protection for older employees.

Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA, 1970)

  • Established the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
  • Required employers to provide workplaces “free from recognized hazards.”

Rehabilitation Act (1973)

  • Prohibited discrimination on the basis of disability in federal programs and contractors.
  • Precursor to the ADA.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, 1990; amended 2008)

  • Prohibited discrimination based on disability in employment, public accommodations, and government services.
  • Amended in 2008 to broaden the definition of disability.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA, 1993)

  • Guaranteed eligible employees up to 12 weeks unpaid, job-protected leave for family or medical reasons.
  • Expanded to include military caregiver leave provisions.

Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA, 1994)

  • Protects the employment and reemployment rights of servicemembers returning from duty.
  • Codified at 38 U.S.C. §§ 4301–4335.

Civil Rights Act of 1991

  • Strengthened Title VII protections.
  • Allowed jury trials and damages for intentional discrimination.

Recent Updates & Continuing Impact

  • Wage, overtime, and leave standards continue to evolve through regulation and litigation.
  • Debates continue over paid leave, minimum wage, gig work, and workplace discrimination.
  • These laws remain the foundation of worker rights in the U.S.

Official Sources