Portland, Maine, Enacts Minimum Wage Ordinance: Employment Law Manual Updated, Legal Timetable Entries Added

Authors: XpertHR Editorial Team

The city of Portland, Maine, has passed a minimum wage ordinance.

Effective January 1, 2016, a covered employer will be required to:

• Pay a minimum wage of $10.10;
• Conspicuously post a notice informing employees of the city's current minimum wage rates along with a copy of the ordinance; and
• Include a notice in an employee's first paycheck advising the employee (including a tipped employee) of the current minimum wage and employee rights under the ordinance.

In 2017, the minimum wage will increase to $10.68. Then, starting in 2018 and recurring every year thereafter, the minimum wage will be adjusted for inflation.

The new ordinance also will prohibit a covered employer from discriminating in any manner or taking any adverse action against an employee (including a tipped employee) for exercising any rights under the ordinance.

As a result of this development, the following Maine sections of the Employment Law Manual have been updated:

• Minimum Wage;
• Employee Communications;
• Employee Discipline; and
• Payment of Wages.

In addition, the Minimum Wage Rates by State and Municipality Quick Reference chart has been updated, and three entries have been added to the Legal Timetable (for 2016, 2017 and 2018).