Which act established a maximum work week of 40 hours?

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is the legislation that established a maximum work week of 40 hours for employees in the United States. Enacted in 1938, the FLSA aimed to set standards for minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment. The 40-hour work week was introduced as part of the broader effort to ensure fair labor practices and improve working conditions, responding to the harsh realities of working long hours during the industrial era.

The FLSA's provisions require that employees who work more than 40 hours in a workweek be compensated for their overtime at a rate that is at least one and a half times their regular rates of pay. This act was pivotal in shaping modern labor standards and remains a key aspect of labor relations in the workplace.

On the other hand, the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) focuses on the rights of employees to organize and engage in collective bargaining, while the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) establishes standards for workplace safety and health. The Equal Pay Act addresses wage discrimination based on gender but does not specifically set hours for the work week. Each of these acts serves distinct purposes in labor law, but the establishment of the maximum work week is specifically