While the federal and Wisconsin minimum wages remain unchanged, several states have announced minimum wage rate increases effective January 1, 2012. The increases are as follows:
Arizona – Standard minimum wage increases from $7.35 to $7.65 an hour. Minimum wage for tipped employees increases from $4.35 to $4.65.
Colorado – Standard minimum wage increases from $7.36 to $7.64 an hour. Minimum wage for tipped employees increases from $4.34 to $4.62 an hour.
Florida – Standard minimum wage increases from $7.31 to $7.67 an hour. Minimum wage for tipped employees increases from $4.29 to $4.65 an hour.
Montana – Standard wage increases from $7.35 to $7.65 an hour. (Montana law does not allow employers to take a tip credit against minimum wage for tipped employees.)
Ohio – Standard minimum wage increases from $7.40 to $7.70 an hour. Minimum wage for tipped employees increases from $3.70 to $3.85 an hour.
Oregon – Standard wage increases from $8.50 to $8.80 an hour. (Oregon law does not allow employers to take a tip credit against minimum wage for tipped employees.)
Vermont – Standard minimum wage increases from $8.15 to $8.46 an hour. Minimum wage for tipped employees increases from $3.95 to $4.10 an hour.
Washington – Standard minimum wage increases from $8.67 to $9.04 an hour. (Washington law does not allow employers to take a tip credit against minimum wage for tipped employees.)
Through either turning a blind eye, ignorance, or blatant and willful violations of wage laws, millions of Americans are being robbed of their right to a fair payday. Misclassification, working off the clock, theft of employees tips, refusal to pay additional compensation for overtime worked or even minimum wages, and flat out refusal to pay employees are examples of wage theft employees suffer everyday in this country.
Showing posts with label wage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wage. Show all posts
Friday, December 30, 2011
Sunday, February 28, 2010
What is a wage?
While the Fair Labor Standards Act protects both minimum wages and overtime compensation, many states have filled in the gaps left under the FLSA with their own state wage laws. As an example, Wisconsin law demands payment of all wages earned by the employee within 31 days from the date the wages were earned. Wis. Stat. § 109.03(1). A wage is broadly defined by Wis. Stat. § 109.01(3) to include, in addition to salaries, commissions, holiday pay, severance pay, bonuses, and any similar advantage agreed upon between the employer and the employee. Wisconsin’s Court of Appeals recently concluded that there are two facets to a wage under Wisconsin law – 1) the employee must have at some time performed services that entitle him to a wage; and 2) the employee’s entitlement to the wage must be clear and already determined by either an agreement or the employer’s policy. Sliwinski v. City of Milwaukee, 2009 WI App 162, P17 (Wis. Ct. App. 2009) (petition for review is denied).
In doing so, the Court of Appeals has rejected the often argued claim that an employee is not due wages unless the employee actually performs work. The Court of Appeals correctly found that as long as the employee has performed work at some point, he or she is entitled to remuneration while sick, on vacation, laid off or even after dismissal. In affirming that one of the purposes of Wis. Stat. ch. 109 is to assure prompt payment of wages, the Court of Appeals found that the plaintiff’s statutory post-discharge pay was a wage despite the fact that the employee did not perform services for the city during the period of time at issue.
In doing so, the Court of Appeals has rejected the often argued claim that an employee is not due wages unless the employee actually performs work. The Court of Appeals correctly found that as long as the employee has performed work at some point, he or she is entitled to remuneration while sick, on vacation, laid off or even after dismissal. In affirming that one of the purposes of Wis. Stat. ch. 109 is to assure prompt payment of wages, the Court of Appeals found that the plaintiff’s statutory post-discharge pay was a wage despite the fact that the employee did not perform services for the city during the period of time at issue.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)