Which of the following is considered a covered employer under the FLSA?

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), a covered employer is defined as one that has employees engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, or one that meets specific threshold criteria related to employee numbers and annual sales.

A public hospital is deemed to be a covered employer because it falls under the category of public institutions that provide essential services. These institutions often receive federal funding and are directly involved in the healthcare system which interstate commerce significantly impacts, making them subject to the provisions of the FLSA.

In contrast, while local community centers, private law firms, and small bakeries may have employees, their coverage under the FLSA can be more complex. Community centers may not have substantial revenue or engage in commerce to the extent needed to meet the FLSA's criteria. Similarly, a private law firm may not engage in commerce in the way required for federal coverage, and a small bakery might fall under the criteria of having too few employees or insufficient revenue. Therefore, a public hospital is clearly identified as a covered employer under the FLSA regulations.