Minimum Wage to Rise to $15.00 for Fast Food Employees in New York

Author: Michael Cardman, XpertHR Legal Editor

September 15, 2015

Many states and cities around the nation have enacted minimum wages whose coverage varies depending on the size of the employer, or depending on whether the employer offers health care benefits.

But until now, there has not been a minimum wage law that applies only to employees in a certain sector.

New York's acting labor commissioner on September 10 ordered new minimum wage rates for certain fast food employees effective December 31, 2015. The minimum wage will start at $10.50 for fast food employees in New York City and at $9.75 for fast food employees in the rest of New York State. Over the next several years, it will gradually increase to $15.00.

An estimated 150,000 workers will be affected.

Meanwhile, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that he will be seeking to increase the minimum wage to $15.00 for all employees in New York, not just fast food employees.