Minnesota’s minimum wage law covers full-time and part-time employees, there are a few exceptions. Under the law, employers must pay employees the minimum wage for all hours worked. Did you know… hours worked include training time, waiting time, rest periods of less than 20 minutes and any other time an employee must be at work.
Effective August 1, 2014, Minnesota’s first step in the minimum wage increase is as follows:
| Large Employer | Any enterprise with an annual gross dollar volume of sales made or business done of $500,000 or more | $8.00 per hour |
| Small Employer | Any enterprise with an annual gross volume of sales made or business done of less than $500,000 | $6.50 per hour |
| Training Rate | May be paid to employees younger than 20 years of age for the 1st 90 consecutive days of employment | 6.50 per hour |
| Youth Rate | Paid to employee younger than 18 years of age who are not covered under federal law | $6.50 per hour |
| Federal Wage | Applies to individual employees of small employers who are engaged in interstate commerce | $7.25 per hour |
| J-1 Visa | Applies to employees of hotels, motels, lodging establishments and resorts working under the authority of a summer work, travel Exchange Visitor (J) non-immigrant visa | $7.25 per hour |
There are also changes to the Minnesota Parental Leave Act, the result of recent legislation. Passage of the Women’s Economic Security Act, creates changes to issues such as equal pay in contracts, women entrepreneurs business development, as well as, pregnancy and parenting leave, sick leave benefits for the care of relatives, pregnancy accommodations, wage disclosure protection and break time and conditions for nursing mothers. The Guide to Minnesota’s Laws about Parental Leave has been updated to reflect the change from 6 weeks to 12 weeks unpaid leave for individuals employed at a company with 21 or more employees.
These important updates are included on the New 7/2014 Minnesota All-On-One™ Poster. Ensure your company is in compliance with Minnesota Laws, call Compliance Poster Company to speak with a Compliance Advisor Today!