A new year often brings about new changes in employment laws, especially wage and hour laws. While Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming state minimum wage rates will stay the same, several states have adopted a new minimum wage rate for 2019 including:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California (12/31/18)
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Montana
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Oregon (7/1/19)
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- Washington
- Washington D.C. (7/1/19)
The current federal minimum wage rate will remain at $7.25 per hour. However, many states have adopted minimum wage rates higher than the federal rate. When the state rate and the federal rate are different, employers must pay their employees the higher rate.
If you have employees working in any of these states, you should review your employees’ pay rates and update their minimum wage poster notices as necessary to ensure compliance with local wage and hour regulations. State minimum wage posters are usually available for free through the state Department of Labor website.
More specific information about the new 2019 minimum wage rates in the states listed above can be found here. Please contact one of our HR experts for help with any wage and hour questions you may have at humanresources@helpside.com