Minimum Wage Inching Upward Next January, over 20 states are expected to increase their minimum wage rates for the coming year. Some states up their minimum wage rates by implementing an adjustment based on the annual increase in the cost of living. Other states follow a schedule of legislatively established minimum wage rate increases over Read more
On January 1, 2019, California employers will begin implementing two important changes in their obligations to employees. The first change should come as no surprise to employers – California’s minimum wage rate is increasing for 2019. Indeed, the minimum wage has been increasing incrementally since 2017. What may be unexpected is that beginning in 2019, Read more
The Office of Massachusetts Attorney General has released the new 2019 Wage and Hour Laws Notice. The notice has been slightly reformatted and updated with new scheduled minimum wage rates. During the 2018 Massachusetts legislative session, House Bill 4640 was passed to increase the minimum wage rate for the next five years. The updated notice Read more
Vermont minimum wage workers have something to look forward to when the new year arrives – a $0.28/hour increase in their pay. For an average full-time, minimum wage worker that’s a $582 pay increase next year. Its good news for workers and for the state’s economy. How is the Vermont Minimum Wage Rate Adjusted? Vermonters Read more
With the passage of two ballot measures in the November general election, the tally is complete: a total of 20 states will increase the minimum wage in 2019. The minimum wage for federal contractors is also scheduled to rise. On January 1, 2019, employers in these states are required to pay employees at least the Read more
Effective September 30, 2018, the minimum wage increased in American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The wage hike brings these territories’ wage rates one step closer to the rest of the United States. The islands of American Samoa and CNMI are U.S. territories covered by the provisions of the federal Fair Read more
State Minimum Wage Rate Jumps 85 Cents Maryland employers – it’s time to update! The Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation has updated the required 2018 Maryland Minimum Wage and Overtime Law workplace posting. The posting clearly identifies the current minimum wage rate, $10.10 per hour, and the previous minimum wage rate, $9.25 per Read more
Raising the Minimum Wage Rate at the Local Level The federal minimum wage rate has been $7.25 an hour since 2009 despite the rising costs of living in the years since. In response, many state and city governments have taken responsibility for raising minimum wage rates to better meet the needs of workers and their Read more
Raising the Minimum Wage at the Local Level Each year at this time, many cities and counties across the country increase their minimum wage rates to keep up with inflation. Some of these laws are in response to the grassroots cause “Fight for $15,” which is aimed at incrementally raising local minimum wage rates until Read more
Alaska is the latest state to eliminate subminimum wage for workers with disabilities. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers are allowed to pay wages less than the Federal minimum wage to workers who have disabilities for the work being performed. New Hampshire and Maryland were the first states in the country to eliminate this Read more
