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

Acts

Drug-Free Workplace Act

Drug-Free Workplace Act (1988)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (41 U.S.C. § 8101 et seq.)

2) Why It Was Done
The Act was passed to require federal contractors and grantees to maintain drug-free workplaces as a condition of receiving federal funding, part of the broader “War on Drugs.”

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
Prior federal laws regulated controlled substances but did not impose workplace drug-free requirements tied to federal contracts or grants. This Act created that obligation.