Answers to Common Minimum Wage Questions

With a minimum wage currently set at $8.55 an hour, and an increase on January 1, 2011 to $8.67, the state of Washington has the highest minimum wage in the nation. Minimum wage laws are very confusing for both employers and employees alike, but that does not give a business an excuse for failing to properly pay its employees. I believe that with coherent information on how these laws work, everybody will be able to have a better understanding of the minimum wage. In this article, I will address some of the most common concerns on minimum wage.

Who has to be paid the minimum wage? The vast majority of employees fall under the umbrella of minimum wage laws. There are, however, a few types of employees that do not have to be paid minimum wage. Students working internships fall under this category. As long as the internship provides an academic experience, the student can receive compensation in the form of experience and school credit instead of money. There are also certain types of contract employees that may establish rates as they see fit with whoever is hiring them. These rates do not have to be at the minimum wage level. It is also important to note that the minimum wage is meant for people that are 16 years and older. This does not prevent 14 and 15 year olds from working, though. Their minimum wage is legally set to 85% of the normal minimum wage.

How is the minimum wage calculated? First, it is important to point out that there is a Federal minimum wage and a State minimum wage. Employers are subject to abide by whichever number is higher. In Washington, the state level is higher than the Federal level, and has been for a while.
Because of this, businesses are required to pay their employees at least $8.55 an hour, rather than the Federal minimum of $7.25 an hour. Washington has a rather unique way in which it determines the level of minimum wage. Every year, it is adjusted to cost of living changes to keep up with inflation. The new wage for the next year is set every September, and it goes into effect the following year on January 1st.

Can employers count tips in their calculation of minimum wage? Some states have laws outlining a lower minimum wage for tipped workers, but Washington is not one of them. Valet parkers, waiters and anybody else who gets tips as a part of their job must still be paid the minimum wage by the business that employs them.

What can I do if my employer is not paying me minimum wage? If you are not being paid the minimum wage despite working a job that requires your employer to do so, then you should
seek legal representation as soon as possible. The minimum wage is meant to protect employees and allow them to live on a reasonable wage. When employers do not abide by these rules, the employee should speak with an experienced employment lawyer about what they need to do to take legal action.

About the Author:

Darryl Parker is a partner at the Seattle and Bellevue based employment and personal injury law firm Premier Law Group. For over 20 years, Darryl has been handling employment issues and civil rights cases.

Comments

[Compliance Posters]

This is so important for those who work with the companies that pays minimum or over minimum wage that can help in living especially to those have a family.