labor lawAdivision of labor law center

The Arizona minimum wage will increase by 35 cents, from $6.90 to $7.25 per hour on January 1, 2009. This is the first annual cost-of-living increase under the new Arizona minimum wage law. The increase is based on the annual inflation rate as reported by the CPI, the Consumer Price Index.  

On November 7, 2006, the Arizona voters approved Proposition 202, also known as the “Raise the Arizona Minimum Wage for Working Arizonans Act.” Under A.R.S. 23-364(A), which became effective January 1, 2007, the Industrial Commission of Arizona was given the authority to enforce and implement the Act.  Effective January 1, 2008, Arizona’s minimum wage increased to $6.90 per hour.  

Every employer covered under the Act is required to pay each employee wages not less than this amount, according to the Industrial Commission of Arizona.Effective January 12, 2008, final Administrative Rules under Title 20, Chapter 5, Article 12 were approved and are currently in effect.  

The Arizona minimum wage applies to part-time and temporary workers, as well as full-time permanent workers.  

Arizona permits employers to take up to (more…)

The Connecticut minimum wage will increase by 35 cents from $7.65 to $8.00 per hour on January 1, 2009.

The Connecticut minimum wage increase is statutory, meaning it was voted as part of state laws, rather than being a cost-of-living increase. A number of states, including Florida, Vermont, Washington and Oregon increase the minimum wage each year to adjust for inflation. Connecticut does not.

The state minimum wage is being increased by statute in New Mexico, as well as Connecticut. In New Mexico, the minimum wage will go from $6.50 to $7.50 per hour on January 1, 2009.

The Connecticut minimum wage will increase again, from $8.00 to $8.25 per hour, on January 1, 2010.

A little-known provision of Connecticut law permits (more…)

On January 1, 2009, the Vermont minimum wage will increase by 38 cents, from $7.68 per hour to $8.06 per hour. This increase puts the Vermont minimum wage in the top five in the nation. The nation’s highest minimum wage is in Washington, at $8.55 per hour in 2009. The second highest minimum wage is in Oregon, at $8.40 per hour.

The Vermont minimum wage for tipped employees increases on January 1, 2009 by 19 cents, from $3.72 per hour to $3.91 per hour. Under state law, this amount applies to “a service or tipped employee.” This is defined as an employee of a hotel, motel, tourist place or restaurant who customarily and regularly receives more than $120 per month in tips. If the employee’s tips plus wages does not average at least the Vermont minimum wage over the pay period, the employer must pay the difference to the employee, in wages.

Every Vermont employer is required to prominently display a number of labor law posters, including the Vermont minimum wage poster. Failure to do so can result in citations, fines and penalties. (more…)

On January 1, 2009 the New Mexico minimum wage will increase by $1.00, from $6.50 to $7.50 per hour. This is the largest increase for any state with the new year.

Under the New Mexico Minimum Wage Act, employers can pay just $2.13 per hour to employees who regularly and customarily receive tips of more than $30 per month. However, for any pay period in which the employee does not average  $5.37 per hour in tips, the employer must make up the difference in wages.

Like many states, the New Mexico minimum wage includes myriad exceptions, including exceptions for employees in domestic service in or about a private home, for federal employees, and for agricultural employees. Volunteers for educational, charitable, religious or nonprofit organizations are exempt from the New Mexico minimum wage laws. So are students working after school or on vacation.

A little-known and little-used provision of the law (more…)

Employers should take a few minutes to update their 2009 minimum wage posters.

Every employer is required by law to display a number of labor law posters, including those on the federal and state minimum wage. These posters must be updated each time the law is changed.

The best way for employers to keep labor law posters updated, is to subscribe to a compliance protection plan. For a nominal fee, these services will send employers updated posters whenever they are necessary. This service provides high-quality, durable, easy-to-read posters.  

Employers should have updated their federal minimum wage posters federal minimum wage posters in July 2008, when the rate went from $5.85 to $6.55 per hour. The federal minimum wage will increase again on July 24, 2009, requiring employers to update their posters.

A number of states will increase the minimum wage on January 1, 2009. Some states (more…)