Code of Federal Regulations Title 29. Labor § 29.779.101 Guiding principles for applying coverage and exemption provisions

It is clear that Congress intended the Fair Labor Standards Act to be broad in its scope. “Breadth of coverage is vital to its mission.” (Powell v. U.S. Cartridge Co., 339 U.S. 497.) An employer who claims an exemption under the Act has the burden of showing that it applies. (Walling v. General Industries Co., 330 U.S. 545;  Mitchell v. Kentucky Finance Co., 359 U.S. 290;  Fleming v. Hawkeye Pearl Button Co., 113 F. 2d 52.) Conditions specified in the language of the Act are “explicit prerequisites to exemption.” (Arnold v. Kanowsky, 361 U.S. 388.) “The details with which the exemptions in this Act have been made preclude their enlargement by implication.” (Addison v. Holly Hill, 322 U.S. 60;  Maneja v. Waialua, 349 U.S. 254.) Exemptions provided in the Act “are to be narrowly construed against the employer seeking to assert them” and their application limited to those who come plainly and unmistakably within their terms and spirit;  this restricted or narrow construction of the exemptions is necessary to carry out the broad objectives for which the Act was passed. (Phillips v. Walling, 324 U.S. 490;  Mitchell v. Kentucky Finance Co., supra;  Arnold v. Kanowsky, supra;  Calaf v. Gonzalez, 127 F. 2d 934;  Bowie v. Gonzalez, 117 F. 2d 11;  Mitchell v. Stinson, 217 F. 2d 210;  Fleming v. Hawkeye Pearl Button Co., 113 F. 2d 52.)