The Seattle City Council recently passed a significant minimum wage increase to $15/hour that will be phased in over the next several years. This increase will phase in more rapidly for businesses with more than 500 employees (including franchise owners) and will take into consideration whether or not benefits are provided to employees. This is the most aggressive minimum wage path in the country and has certainly stirred the conversation of minimum wage increases nationwide. Congress has not yet passed any new federal minimum wage increases, with the last federal increase in 2009 of $7.25 still in effect for states that do not have higher minimum wage laws.
To see a list of state minimum wage laws, please visit:
http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/america.htm
For questions regarding which minimum wage applies to you, please contact us.