Pay regulations and compliance
Compensation practices at K-State must follow several federal and state laws designed to ensure fairness and transparency. A few of these regulations are highlighted below.
The Equal Pay Act requires that men and women receive equal pay for equal work, meaning jobs that require similar skill, effort, responsibility and working conditions must be compensated equitably.
“Compensated equitably” means employees performing substantially similar work are paid fairly in relation to one another, with differences in pay based only on legitimate job‑related factors such as experience, skills, performance or education — not on personal characteristics unrelated to the job.
The Fair Labor Standards Act, or FLSA, establishes rules for minimum wage, overtime eligibility, recordkeeping and child labor. FLSA also governs whether a job is exempt or nonexempt, which affects how employees are paid and whether overtime is required.
Additional regulations include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits pay discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act; and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to name a few.
For employees working outside Kansas, K‑State must also comply with the state-specific wage and hour laws where the employee works, which may include different overtime thresholds, posting requirements or pay transparency rules.
Together, these laws create a framework that promotes fair compensation practices, supports legal compliance and helps ensure employees understand their rights regarding pay.
Departments are responsible for knowledge of these regulations and for ensuring compliant compensation practices in their area. Human Resources Compensation and Organizational Effectiveness conducts periodic audits to measure and maintain compliance in order to minimize risk to the university.
Additional resources:
For additional details or answers to common questions, employees may visit:
- Why does FLSA matter? – Learn more about the Fair Labor Standards Act and how it applies to your position.
- Civil Rights and Title IX – Learn more about how the Civil Rights and Title IX Office supports compliance.
Employees are encouraged to work with their manager or HR liaison for questions related to pay regulations and compliance.
HR liaisons may also engage HR Compensation and Organizational Effectiveness for support for issues related to pay compliance and regulations.