labor lawAdivision of labor law center

Minimum wage changes in 2009 will require every employer in the nation to update his or her labor law posters.

 

On January 1, 2009 eleven states will increase the minimum wage. The majority of these states implement annual cost-of-living increases in the state minimum wage.

 

The biggest minimum wage increase in the nation this January is $1.00 per hour, in New Mexico. This changes the New Mexico minimum wage from $6.50 to $7.50 per hour. This is a statutory change, not a cost of living change.

 

The Washington state minimum wage remains the highest in 2009, increasing by 48 cents from $8.07 to $8.55 per hour. The Oregon minimum wage is second, increasing by 45 cents from $7.95 to $8.40 per hour. Third place goes to Vermont, where the minimum wage increases by 38 cents from $7.68 to $8.06 per hour.

 

There is a 3-way tie for fourth place, between Massachusetts, Connecticut and California. That’s due to a 35 cent increase raising the Connecticut minimum wage from $7.65 to $8.00 per hour.

 

Massachusetts and California have minimum wages of $8.00 per hour that do not increase in 2009. It’s worth noting that when the Massachusetts and California minimum wage laws were passed in 2006, each claimed the state minimum wage would be the highest in the nation. In early 2008, the two were tied at second place, but neither ever rose higher than that, partly because they do not include an annual cost of living increase.

 

By law, almost every employer must display a federal minimum wage poster. Many employers are also required to display state minimum wage posters. In every state, there are a number of additional posters that each employer must display. The number ranges from 4 to 15 posters per employer, depending upon the state.

 

The remaining minimum wage increases for January 1, 2009 include a 42 cent increase in Florida, from $6.79 to $7.21. In Colorado, the minimum wage increases by 26 cents, from $7.02 to $7.28. The Arizona minimum wage increase of 35 cents brings that state’s rate from $6.90 to $7.25. In Missouri, a minimum wage increase of 40 cents will increase the rate from $6.65 to $7.05. The Ohio minimum wage increases by 30 cents from $7.00 to $7.30 per hour. The Montana minimum wage increases by 35 cents from $6.55 to $6.90 per hour.

 

An excellent way for employers to ensure there are meeting all state and federal posting requirements, with the many changes to labor laws, is to subscribe to a labor law poster service. A reliable service will deliver updated posters to the employer, whenever the posting requirements in their state change. The posting service ensures that busy employers never have to worry about not being in compliance.

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