labor lawAdivision of labor law center

The Alaska minimum wage remains at $7.15 per hour, while the new federal minimum wage will be $7.25 per hour. This means that for the first time since the Alaska minimum wage was passed, the state rate is lower than the federal one.

On July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage will increase by 70 cents from $6.55 per hour to $7.25 per hour. On that day, thirteen states will increase their minimum wage rate, too. These states, including Oklahoma, Texas, simply adopt the federal minimum as their own, so when the federal rate changes their minimum wage rates change, too.

As a result of these change all employers will be required to update their labor law posters. Businesses can obtain updated posters from www.laborlawcenter.com.

The higher federal minimum wage will affect some but not all employers in Alaska. When an employee is covered by both federal and state law, the employee is entitled to protection under whichever law confers the greatest benefit.

Employers with more than $500,000 in revenue or those who engage in interstate commerce are covered by the federal minimum wage law. Effective July 24, 2009 those Alaska employers must begin paying the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

An Alaska employer engages in interstate commerce (more…)

Employers have already been warned that the state minimum wage will increase with the new year in Oregon, Washington, Florida, New Mexico, Vermont, Colorado, Arizona, Missouri, Montana, Ohio and Connecticut.

However, employers in other states also have to contend with minimum wage increases this year.

Even if an employer has no minimum wage employees, each increase means the employer must update his or her minimum wage posters. By law, employers are required to display a variety of labor law posters prominently in the workplace. Failure to do so can result in fines, penalties and citations.

On July 1, 2009 the Illinois minimum wage will increase by 50 cents, from $7.50 to $8.00 per hour. This is the final step in a 3-tiered increase introduced by the now-infamous (more…)

Alaska employers are invited to comment on new workers’ compensation regulations proposed by Labor Commissioner Clark “Click” Bishop.

The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development recently proposed new regulations aimed at making workers’ compensation hearings more ethical.

Workers’  compensation hearings are held when the employer or employee does not agree with the original finding. Often, this is because an employee is denied workers’ compensation and feels that he or she was entitled to it.

Under the proposed regulations, a new (more…)

According to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, minors under the age of 16 cannot legally be employed on a commercial fishing boat in the state. There is an exception under the law, however, for a minor working on a boat that is owned and operated by a parent.

Alaska, which traditionally has had a shortage of skilled labor in some areas, has fewer restrictions on child labor than many other states.

Recently, a fatal accident (more…)

Alaska employers are forewarned that the state Labor Commissioner is focusing on safety regulations regarding the use of cranes in the workplace.

A number of serious crane accidents in New York and across the country have prompted these changes. More recently, a crane tipped over and crushed a spectator during a building ceremony in Oklahoma. Other fatal crane accidents have taken place in Nevada, Florida and Texas in just the past few months.

The Alaska Labor Commissioner Click Bishop (more…)