2011 Minimum Wage Requirement Recap – Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont, Washington

December 22nd, 2010 Posted by Cara

Effective January 1, 2011 seven states will the minimum wage: Arizona, , , Oregon, , and .

 

2011 minimum wages for the states are: 

  • Arizona $7.35
  • Colorado $7.36
  • Montana $7.35
  • Ohio $7.40
  • Oregon $8.50
  • Vermont $8.15
  • Washington $8.67 

Florida and Missouri, which usually update the annually, will not have any increases. The Florida remains at $7.25 per hour, with tipped employees entitled to $4.23 per hour. In Missouri, the is also $7.25 per hour, while a tipped employee can be paid just $3.64 per hour.

 

Every should prominently display updated minimum wage and employment law posters in the , in a location where they can be seen by all employees.

 

Washington’s minimum wage is the highest in 2011, while Oregon is in second place. The minimum wages in Connecticut, Illinois and Nevada are tied for third place at $8.25 per hour. However, Nevada employers who offer affordable group health insurance can pay just $7.25 per hour, the same as the federal minimum wage.

 

The Vermont minimum wage will be sixth highest in 2011 at $8.15 per hour. Massachusetts and California are tied for seventh place at $8.00 per hour. The minimum wage in Alaska is $7.75 while Maine and New Mexico require that employees be paid at least $7.50 per hour. The Rhode Island minimum wage rounds out the top dozen at $7.40 per hour.

 

In total, 14 states have minimum wages higher than the federal rate of $7.25 per hour, while 26 states have minimum wages the same as the federal minimum wage. Five states have lower minimum wages, while another five have no state minimum wage at all.

 

The minimum wage for tipped employees in the same states will also change. The 2011 rates for tipped employees are:  (more…)

2 Comments >> Posted in Arizona,Employment Laws,Minimum Wage,Other,Wage and Hour
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Colorado Medical Marijuana in the Workplace

July 28th, 2010 Posted by Amelia

Two laws designed to limit the rapid growth of the legal medical industry, also provide guidance for employers n this troubling topic.

 

Since 2001, workers in Colorado who have a “debilitiating medical condition” can use marijuana when it is “medically necessary” to treat a condition. It is frequently prescribed to alleviate nausea during chemotherapy, as well as for other conditions.  

 

The 2001 law also took the enormous leap of assuming that of less than two ounces of marijuana, or of up to three flowering plants, was presumed to be lawful. However, users must register with the state and obtain a card issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health to legally use the controlled substance.

 

Still, that law does not require the employer to accommodate the use of medical marijuana in the workplace. The new laws further clarifiy that requirement, and allow an employer to discipline an employee who is under the influence under certain circumstances.

 

Effective June 10, 2010, a registered marijuana user cannot: 

  • Perform any task under the influence of medical marijuana that would constitute negligence or professional malpractice
  •  , pilot a plane, or be in actual physical control (including operating or navigating) a motorboat, plane or vehicle while under the influence of medical marijuana
  •  Use medical marijuana in a vehicle, plane or motorboat. (Apparently use in rowboats, canoes and kayaks is acceptable)
  •  Use or possess medical marijuana on school grounds or on a school bus 

Currently 14 states have laws that permit limited use of medical marijuana by a patient with a valid prescription for it. Those states include California, Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, , Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, , Rhode Island, and . Several of the states have provided almost no guidance for employers on handling an employee whose off-duty consumption of cannabis creates performance or problems in the workplace.

 

 

3 Comments >> Posted in Colorado,Employment Laws,Labor and Employment,Other
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Wisconsin Bans Workplace Smoking

June 16th, 2010 Posted by Derrick

The Wisconsin smoking ban, which prohibits smoking in virtually every , goes into effect on July 5, 2010. The 2009 Act 12 is more restrictive than many other smoking bans. It requires business owners to enforce the non-smoking , and provides greater penalties for business owners who fail to do so.

 

The Wisconsin non-smoking law prohibits smoking indoors in public places, including workplaces with two or more walls. This prohibits smoking in warehouses, auto shops, taverns, restaurants, sports arenas, theaters, private clubs and stores. Smoking is banned in all state and local government offices, all schools, and prisons. The law also on public transportation and even in bus shelters.

 

Restaurants and bars may permit smoking in a designated outdoor area such as a patio or porch, as long as the space has only one wall. The state law permits smoking outdoors, even inches away from an open door or window.

 

Many states permit residents of nursing homes to smoke in certain designated areas. Wisconsin will not. All hospitals, clinics and nursing homes are included in the .

 

The new law repeals an earlier statute that allowed a business owner to designate certain areas where smoking was permitted, such as private offices or an employee break room. Smoking is banned throughout the ’s building, including cafeterias, break rooms, restrooms, vehicles, elevators and even (more…)

9 Comments >> Posted in Employment Laws,Labor and Employment,Wisconsin
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New Military FMLA Regulations

February 26th, 2010 Posted by Derrick

The U.S. Department of Labor continues to work on FMLA regulations related to leave for military families.

 

Under the bill approving the military budget, the National Defense Authorization Act, the president expanded FMLA to military families when the soldier is deployed in a foreign country.

 

The FMLA leave that was granted to members of the Reserve and National Guard under the 2009 is now to families of armed services members who are on active duty in a foreign country.  

 

The new regulations are expected to be (more…)

No Comments >> Posted in Family and Medical Leave Act,Federal Labor Laws,Other,Regulations
Tags: , , , , , , ,

New Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Law

August 19th, 2009 Posted by Amelia

Earlier this summer, Governor Phil Bredesen signed a Tennessee Workers’ Compensation . The law will limit employers’ liability for injuries suffered by employees during voluntary recreational, social or athletic activities. 

 

While this law limits workers’ comp cases in Tennessee, employers in other states should be cautious about permitting recreational or activities on company property.

 

The law highlights a dilemma for many employers – how to promote a healthy lifestyle without incurring additional liability for sports-related injuries and deaths.

 

The new law was sparked by the lawsuit Gooden V. Coors Technical Ceramic Co. In that case, Mr. Gooden collapsed with a fatal while playing on the ’s premises during an unpaid break. The court found that an employee’s death on the ’s premises was a workers’ comp case – even though the basketball game was entirely voluntary.

 

Because the employer provided the basketball hoop, supervisors sometimes participated in games and the games occurred on company property, the court found that the death (more…)

No Comments >> Posted in Employment Laws,Labor and Employment,Other,Tennessee
Tags: , , , , , ,