scope:

Introductory statement.

The purpose of this part is to make available in one place the general interpretations of the Department of Labor pertaining to the joint employment relationship under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. 1 It is intended that the positions stated will serve as ''a practical guide to employers and employees as to how the office representing the public interest in its enforcement will seek to apply it.'' 2 These interpretations contain the construction of the law which the administrator believes to be correct and which will guide him in the performance of his duties under the Act, unless and until he is otherwise directed by authoritative decisions of the courts or he concludes upon reexamination of an interpretation that it is incorrect. To the extent that prior administrative rulings, interpretations, practices, and enforcement policies relating to sections 3 (d), (e) and (g) of the Act, which define the terms ''employer'', ''employee'', and ''employ'', are inconsistent or in conflict with the principles stated in this part they are hereby rescinded. The interpretations contained in this part may be relied upon in accordance with section 10 of the Portal-to-Portal Act, 3 so long as they remain effective and are not modified, amended, rescinded, or determined by judicial authority to be incorrect.