labor lawAdivision of labor law center

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…)

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 Ohio minimum wage increases by 30 cents from $7.00 to $7.30 per hour.  

On that same date, the Ohio minimum wage for tipped employees increases by 15 cents, from $3.50 to $3.65 per hour, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce. Any tipped Ohio employee who does not average $3.65 per hour in tips must be paid the difference in wages by the employer.

Under Ohio law, smaller companies can pay employers less. Companies with revenue less than $267,000 in 2009 can pay just $6.55 under the Ohio minimum wage law. However, when the federal minimum wage increases on July 24, 2009, they must pay at least $7.25 per hour. Youths who are 14 and 15 years of age can also be paid these reduced wages.

A constitutional amendment passed by Ohio voters (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…)

Effective January 1, 2009, the Florida minimum wage will increase 42 cents from $6.79 to $7.21 per hour.

The increase, announced on October 15, 2008 by the state Agency for Workforce Innovation, is based on the cost of living in the Sunshine State.

Many Florida employers will also be affected by the federal minimum wage increase to $7.25 per hour on July 24, 2009.

The 2009 Florida minimum wage applies to (more…)