Following the Great Depression, the federal, state, and local governments began to regulate the terms of employment to protect the workforce. This regulation has evolved into a variety of areas:Minimum wage – Most non-tipped employees are entitled to receive a minimum hourly wage for work. The Massachusetts minimum wage{: target="_blank"} was changed, effective January 1st, 2017, to $11.00 an hour.Overtime – With some exceptions, the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires that employees be paid “time and a half” – 150 percent of their normal hourly wages – if they work more than 40 hours in a calendar week. This is also represented in Massachusetts law{: target="_blank"} with certain exceptions.Emergency leave – The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires covered employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave during any 12 month period for events such as the birth of a child, a personal illness or injury, or the illness of a family member.Unpaid wages – Sometimes, employers simply don’t pay outgoing employees the wages they are owed. This can be regular salary as well as unused vacation and leave, commissions, bonuses, and other vested rights. Massachusetts law allows employees to sue for these unpaid wages and, if successful, to also have their legal fees paid by the employer.