Tony & Susan Alamo Fndn. v. Secretary of Labor involved a challenge by a religious foundation to the application of federal minimum wages laws to its workers. The foundation owned a number of businesses by which it supported itself financially. The businesses were staffed with “associates,” most of whom were drug addicts or criminals before their conversion and rehabilitation by the foundation. In return for their work, the associates received food and lodging. The secretary of labor sued the foundation, alleging violations of federal minimum wage laws with respect to the associates. The foundation argued that the receipt of only the bare necessities from the foundation was a part of the associates’ religious practice, and to force the foundation to pay the workers minimum wage would infringe on their right to freely exercise their religion. The Court rejected the foundation’s argument, finding that abiding by federal minimum wage laws would do nothing to burden the practice of the associates’ religion; the associates could continue to be paid in benefits equal in value to the minimum wage, and even if they were paid in cash, the workers could donate back to the foundation any amount they perceived to be in excess of their basic needs. The Court reiterated its holding that the Free Exercise Clause does not guarantee freedom from all forms of government regulation; it only protects adherents from government conduct that actually burdens their freedom to exercise religious rights.
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