• The Arkansas Department of Labor regulates employers in the state.men at work image by glockemann from Fotolia.com
  
  Labor laws protect workers from exploitation and other unfair practices. In Arkansas, the state attorney general's office and the Department of Labor regulate employment and implement and enforce employment laws. For hourly workers, these laws cover issues such as minimum wage and overtime. Protect your rights by knowing the law.
  
  

Minimum Wage

• As of July 1, 2010, the minimum hourly wage an employer can pay in Arkansas is $6.25 with some exceptions. Employers can pay full-time students 85 percent or more of the minimum wage as long as the students work less than 20 hours per week while school is in session or less than 40 hours per week while school is out of session.
  
  Employers of workers that earn tips as part of their job can pay workers $2.63 an hour as long as the workers' tips equal at least $3.62 per hour. Employers who regularly provide their workers with housing, apparel or other goods or services can deduct up to 30 cents an hour from workers' pay toward the reasonable value of those goods or services.
  
  Employers may also pay handicapped workers less than minimum wage if the workers possess special exemption licenses or permits authorizing their employers to do so.
  
  

Overtime

• When employees work more than 40 hours in a week, employers must pay them one and a half times their usual hourly rate for each hour worked above 40 hours. Arkansas labor law exempts agricultural workers from this regulation and allows state agencies to compensate workers with paid time off in lieu of overtime pay.
  
  

Other Regulations

• In Arkansas, your employer has seven days after termination to pay you any wages due if you request or demand immediate payment. If you do not request or demand payment, your employer can give you your final paycheck on your next regularly scheduled payday. Employers do not have to provide meal or rest breaks but do have to pay you for any unpaid breaks during which you were required to work. Employers do not have to pay you for jury duty but cannot fire you for taking time off to attend jury duty.
  
  

Reporting Violations

• To report employer violations to the Arkansas Department of Labor, download and fill out a complaint questionnaire. This questionnaire will ask for your name, date of birth, and contact information. You must also fill out information about your employer, such as the name and nature of the business; the names of the owner, manager, and supervisor; your duties, hours, and pay schedule; how you were paid and whether you have documentation of your schedule, pay, and other relevant information.
  
  The Arkansas Department of Labor accepts completed forms by email, fax or mail.