Our readers may recall that the City of St. Louis, MO passed the Minimum Wage Law (Ordinance 70078) in 2015. The law was blocked that same year by a Circuit Court Judge that decided the local law conflicted with the state’s minimum wage. On February 28, 2017, the Supreme Court of Missouri determined that the City’s law is valid. The Circuit Court lifted an injunction blocking the City’s minimum wage ordinance.
Effective May 5, 2017, employers in St. Louis must pay their minimum wage employees $10.00 per hour. The rate will increase again to $11.00 per hour on January 1, 2018. Then on January 1, 2019, and on each January 1 of each successive year thereafter, the minimum wage rate from the previous year must be adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index.
The minimum wage rate applies to companies with more than $500,000 in annual gross revenue and employers with more than 15 employees on a weekly basis. The minimum wage rate covers employees who perform at least 20 hours of work in a calendar year within the geographic boundaries of the City of St. Louis. The Ordinance makes it unlawful for an employer to interfere with, restrain or deny the exercise of or attempt to exercise any right protected under the Ordinance. Employers are also prohibited from retaliating against an employee because the employee has:
- properly exercised his or her rights protected under the Ordinance;
- made a complaint to the Department of Human Services regarding compliance with the Ordinance;
- participated in any investigation regarding compliance with the Ordinance;
- informed an employer, other employees, union or similar organization or legal counsel about an employer’s alleged violation of the Ordinance;
- opposed or advocated against any policy, practice, or act that is unlawful under the Ordinance.
All employers covered by the Ordinance are required to post notices advising employees of their rights under the Ordinance in a conspicuous place. Employers are also responsible of providing a written notice with the employee’s first paycheck. Failure to comply with any act required by the Ordinance can result in a sentence of not more 90 days in jail or a fine of not more than $500 per violation, or both. Additionally, employers engaged in repeated violations or intentional violations of the Ordinance could have their business license revoked.
Employers can purchase the St. Louis Minimum Wage poster here, or contact a compliance advisor for more information.