[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 3]
[Revised as of July 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR552.100]

[Page 274-275]
 
                             TITLE 29--LABOR
 
         CHAPTER V--WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
 
PART 552_APPLICATION OF THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT TO DOMESTIC SERVICE
--Table of Contents
 
                        Subpart B_Interpretations
 
Sec. 552.100  Application of minimum wage and overtime provisions.

    (a)(1) Domestic service employees must receive for employment in any 
household a minimum wage of not less than that required by section 6(a) 
of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
    (2) In addition, domestic service employees who work more than 40 
hours in any one workweek for the same employer must be paid overtime 
compensation at a rate not less than one and one-half times the 
employee's regular rate of pay for such excess hours, unless the 
employee is one who resides in the employer's household. In the case of 
employees who reside in the household where they are employed, section 
13(b)(21) of the Act provides an overtime, but not a minimum wage, 
exemption. See Sec. 552.102.
    (b) In meeting the wage responsibilities imposed by the Act, 
employers may take appropriate credit for the reasonable cost or fair 
value, as determined by the Administrator, of food, lodging and other 
facilities customarily furnished to the employee by the employer such as 
drugs, cosmetics,

[[Page 275]]

drycleaning, etc. See S. Rep. 93-690, p. 19, and section 3(m) of the 
Act. Credit may be taken for the reasonable cost or fair value of these 
facilities only when the employee's acceptance of them is voluntary and 
uncoerced. See regulations, part 531. Where uniforms are required by the 
employer, the cost of the uniforms and their care may not be included in 
such credit.
    (c) For enforcement purposes, the Administrator will accept a credit 
taken by the employer of up to 37.5 percent of the statutory minimum 
hourly wage for a breakfast (if furnished), up to 50 percent of the 
statutory minimum hourly wage for a lunch (if furnished), and up to 62.5 
percent of the statutory minimum hourly wage for a dinner (if 
furnished), which meal credits when combined do not in total exceed 150 
percent of the statutory minimum hourly wage for any day. Nothing herein 
shall prevent employers from crediting themselves with the actual cost 
or fair value of furnishing meals, whichever is less, as determined in 
accordance with part 531 of this chapter, if such cost or fair value is 
different from the meal credits specified above: Provided, however, that 
employers keep, maintain and preserve (for a period of 3 years) the 
records on which they rely to justify such different cost figures.
    (d) In the case of lodging furnished to live-in domestic service 
employees, the Administrator will accept a credit taken by the employer 
of up to seven and one-half times the statutory minimum hourly wage for 
each week lodging is furnished. Nothing herein shall prevent employers 
from crediting themselves with the actual cost or fair value of 
furnishing lodging, whichever is less, as determined in accordance with 
part 531 of this chapter, if such cost or fair value is different from 
the amount specified above, provided, however, that employers keep, 
maintain, and preserve (for a period of 3 years) the records on which 
they rely to justify such different cost figures. In determining 
reasonable cost or fair value, the regulations and rulings in 29 CFR 
part 531 are applicable.

(Sec. 29(b), 88 Stat. 76; (29 U.S.C. 206(f)); Secretary's Order No. 16-
75, dated Nov. 25, 1975 (40 FR 55913), and Employment Standards Order 
No. 76-2, dated Feb. 23, 1976 (41 FR 9016))

[40 FR 7405, Feb. 20, 1975, as amended at 44 FR 6716, Feb. 2, 1979; 60 
FR 46768, Sept. 8, 1995]