What was started as an early attempt to regulate how companies pay their employees?

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was indeed an early attempt to establish regulations regarding employee compensation. Enacted in 1938, the FLSA was significant in the United States as it introduced various labor standards, including minimum wage, overtime pay, record-keeping requirements, and youth employment. Its primary goal was to provide a fair and equitable wage system that addressed issues of economic inequality and exploitation during a time when many workers faced poor wages and working conditions.

By setting a federal minimum wage and establishing guidelines for overtime pay, the FLSA aimed to protect workers and ensure they received fair compensation for their labor. Over the years, it has evolved to cover more workers and define more specific rules about wage practices, making it a foundational piece of legislation concerning labor rights and compensation.

The other options mentioned relate to different aspects of employee rights and protections but do not specifically address how companies pay their employees in the same way the FLSA does. For instance, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act focuses on the regulation of employee benefit plans, the Occupational Safety and Health Act concentrates on workplace safety, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Act addresses discrimination. These laws, while crucial, do not specifically deal with the regulation of compensation like the FLSA