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HR Support on Federal and State Minimum Wage Laws
Editor's Note: What's the least an employee may be paid?
Overview: Federal minimum wage law requires that all nonexempt employees be paid at least $7.25 for every hour they work; this is the federal minimum wage. Nineteen states have even higher minimum wages.
Since about 97 percent of the American workforce earns more than the minimum wage, very few employers need to concern themselves with this baseline requirement. Nevertheless, an employer that makes agreed-upon deductions from an employee's pay – for example, deductions for cleaning uniforms – must be careful that the deductions do not bring the employee's wage below the applicable minimum rate.
To comply with minimum wage laws, an employer can apply certain payments – most notably, tips that wait staff, bartenders and other tipped employees receive for service, and the cost of board and lodging – toward its minimum wage obligations.
Also, minimum wage laws allow certain employees – including students, workers with disabilities, messengers, apprentices and student-learners – to be paid at "subminimum wages" below the normal rate.
Trends: To help employees keep pace with the rising cost of living, ten states have indexed their minimum wage rates to the rate of inflation. Lawmakers have introduced legislation that would do the same in other states, and at the federal level. No bills have passed yet, but if the economy improves, it's a fair bet that some will start to be enacted.
Michael Cardman, Legal Editor
Latest items in Minimum Wage
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California Vice: Targeted Inspections Yield Record-High Minimum Wage and Overtime Assessments
California's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) assessed $13 million in unpaid overtime and $3 million in unpaid minimum wages last year, a huge increase over previous years that the agency credits to its new approach to enforcement.
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Minimum Wage Increase Looms in Minnesota
The Minnesota Senate has passed legislation that would raise the state's minimum wage to $7.75 per hour by 2015, and the Minnesota House has passed legislation that would raise the state's minimum wage to $9.50 per hour by 2015 and then increase the minimum wage by the rate of inflation every year thereafter. Gov. Mark Dayton has said he prefers the House version but would sign either bill into law.
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Retail Resource Center for HR
XpertHR's Retail Resource Center for HR helps retail employers handle their most vexing employment issues by bringing relevant resources together in one place for easy access.
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California Content Updated to Reflect Minimum Wage Ruling
The Minimum Wage: California section of XpertHR's Employment Law Manual now references the ruling Gonzalez v. Downtown L.A. Motors.
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New Hampshire Minimum Wage Law Poster
The New Hampshire Minimum Wage Law poster is required by all employers.
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Your Rights Under Illinois Employment Laws Poster
The Your Rights Under Illinois Employment Laws poster, mandated by the Illinois Department of Labor, must be posted by all employers.
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Iowa Minimum Wage Law Poster
The Iowa Minimum Wage Law poster, mandated by the Iowa Workforce Development, Labor Services Division, is required by all employers covered by the Iowa Minimum Wage Law.
About this topic
HR guidance on complying with federal and state minimum wage laws.