The state of New York increased the general minimum wage rate in a series of three annual increments starting in 2013; as a result, a Wage Board was appointed to investigate and recommend any changes to service employees’ minimum wage. On February 24, 2015, the Acting Commissioner of the New York Department of Labor adopted Read more
Three New Mexico communities are increasing their minimum wage rates. Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Bernalillo each tie the minimum wage rate in their jurisdictions to increases in the cost of living from the previous year, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. Albuquerque Albuquerque’s Minimum Wage rate increased to $8.75 per hour effective January 1, Read more
Last year, the District of Columbia passed the Wage Theft Prevention Amendment Act of 2014 (DC B 671) making significant changes to D.C.’s wage and hour laws. In particular, the act increases employer liability for wage-and-hour violations and changes the administrative procedures for adjudicating wage disputes. The act also increases employers’ notice obligations to employees. Read more
Sunnyvale, CA joins several other Northern California communities in adopting a minimum wage rate that is higher than California’s $9.00 per hour minimum wage rate. Effective January 1, 2015, Sunnyvale’s minimum wage rate is $10.30 per hour. Beginning on January 1, 2016, and each year thereafter, Sunnyvale’s minimum wage will be adjusted for increases in Read more
Minimum Wage Increase Vermont has released two important posting requirements for Vermont employers. The first is the State’s Minimum Wage Notice which implements the minimum wage increases passed by the legislature and signed into law last June. The new law establishes incremental increases in the minimum wage rate beginning January 1, 2015 and continuing through Read more
Tipped employees largely work in the restaurant, hospitality and service industries and they regularly receive tips in the performance of their jobs. Their employers, however, sometimes find it challenging to ensure they meet minimum wage rate requirements, handle the “tip credit” properly and help tipped workers understand their pay. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act Read more
Washington DC has passed a new law (DC B 671) that will soon require employers to provide employees with written notice outlining the terms of their employment. The law also clarifies the administrative procedures for adjudicating wage disputes and enhances remedies, fines and administrative penalties against an employer that fails to pay earned wages. Further, Read more
Beginning January 1, 2015, Floridians earning minimum wage will see an increase in their pay. The minimum wage will increase from $7.93 per hour to $8.05 per hour. For tipped employees, the increase will be from $4.91 per hour to $5.03 per hour. The law requires a minimum wage adjustment based on inflation and cost Read more
Twice a year the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announces matters it plans to consider in the coming months and years. Acting on a Presidential directive, the DOL last spring announced plans to consider regulations regarding overtime for “white collar” workers under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The announcement, included in the Semiannual Regulatory Read more
Employment Discrimination The Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) has released new mandatory state and county labor law posting requirements. The state’s Employment Discrimination is Unlawful posting has been updated to include two new protected categories: “Ancestry” and “Gender Identity.” Ancestry compliments the category of “National Origin,” and “Gender Identity” was added by Read more
