labor lawAdivision of labor law center

A number of states have implemented laws that require employers to recognize domestic partnerships for benefit purposes, including partnerships between gay or lesbian couples.

From a practical standpoint, these laws mean that in selected states, employers who offer benefits to spouses of employees must offer similar benefits to registered domestic partners in many cases, including same-sex couples. In many cases, it also entitles the couples to family leave under a state law.

Most employers will find that the biggest difference is in (more…)

For the first time, a state minimum wage will be reduced.

On January 1, 2010 the Colorado minimum wage will be reduced by 4 cents, from $7.28 per hour to $7.24 per hour. However, most Colorado employers will be required to pay $7.25 per hour under the federal minimum wage, the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The minimum wage for tipped employees will decrease from $4.26 per hour to $4.22 per hour according to the Colorado Division of Labor & Employment. If the employee does not average $3.02 per hour over the payroll week, the employer must pay the difference.

The Colorado minimum wage is adjusted annually for inflation. Unlike most states, however, when the cost of living goes down – as it has in the past year – the Colorado minimum wage can be reduced. While a variety of states including Washington, Oregon and Florida increase the minimum wage annually, there is no provision for the automatic reduction of minimum wage in most states.

Colorado employers need to update their state minimum wage posters immediately.

Although the Colorado minimum wage reduction is only 4 cents, it is far better than the annual increases of 20 cents or more in recent years. In 2009, for example, the Colorado minimum wage increased (more…)

On January 1, 2009 the Colorado minimum wage increased to $7.28 per hour. The hike from $7.02 hourly represents a 26 cents per hour increase.  The new minimum wage tracks the region’s inflation rate.

According to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment , the minimum wage must be annually adjusted for inflation. In the Denver-Boulder-Greeley area of Colorado, the Consumer Price Index (or CPI) showed an increase of 3.7%. As a result, the minimum wage showed a corresponding increase.

Tracking the inflation rate is part of Colorado law. Under Article XVIII, Section 15 of the Colorado Constitution, employers are required to adjust the pay of their minimum-wage employees every year to match the inflation rate. The law was last amended in 2006.

Donald J. Mares, Colorado’s Executive Director of Labor as well as the top officer of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, published the new minimum wage figures recently.

Because the prices of food and other commodities have risen dramatically, (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…)

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 (more…)