labor lawAdivision of labor law center

The New York minimum wage will increase by 10 cents from $7.15 to $7.25 on July 24, 2009. Many employers point out that a dime an hour will have little impact for employees, but be a major annoyance for employers.

For one thing, every New York employer has to update his or her state and federal minimum wage posters on that date.

However, there is no way to avoid this increase. Under state law, the New York minimum wage cannot be lower than the federal minimum wage. On July 24, 2009 the federal minimum wage increases from $6.55 per hour to $7.25 per hour under the FLSA.

The federal Fair Labor Standards Act  or FLSA covers employers that engage in interstate commerce and companies with an annual revenue of at least $500,000. These employers are required by FLSA to pay their workers the federal minimum wage.

In 2007, the federal minimum rose from $5.15 to $5.85 per hour. In 2008, the federal rate rose by again to $6.55 per hour. On July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage will again increase by 70 cents from the $6.55 per hour to $7.25 per hour. (more…)