Nearly Half Of States Raised Minimum Wage At Beginning Of The Year
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, nearly half of U.S. states implemented increases in their state-mandated minimum wages at the beginning of 2023. The department created a webpage to help employers track what the wage is in their respective state.
This website is important because while the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, many states laws require much higher rates and some also provide greater employee protections. (The minimum wage in Illinois is $13 an hour, for example, while California’s is $15.50.)
Employers must comply with both the federal and state mandates. And while the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not provide wage payment collection procedures for an employee’s usual or promised wages or commissions in excess of those required by the FLSA, some states do have laws under which such claims (sometimes including fringe benefits) may be filed.
Want to make sure your company is on the right side of the law in your state? Read more here and here.