Minnesota Minimum-Wage Workers About to Get a Raise?
Map of minimum wage rates in the United States. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Minnesota may see an increase in its minimum wage in the 2013 legislative session. The Minnesota House of Representatives is debating a proposed rate hike to $9.50 whereas the state Senate is considering a more modest rate of $7.50. Democrats control both houses of the state’s legislature making passage of an increase likely, and Democratic Governor Mark Dayton already stated he would sign a minimum wage rate increase into law.
If passed, either increase would be the first increase for Minnesotan minimum wage earners since 2005.
The state’s minimum wage for large employers currently is $6.15 per hour, though many workers automatically receive the higher federal minimum of $7.25 per hour. Minnesota is one of only four states nationwide where the minimum wage on the books is lower than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Arkansas, Georgia, and Wyoming also have state minimum wages that fall below the federal minimum wage rate.
In a 2012 report, the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry estimated 6.1 percent of Minnesota’s hourly workers were paid $7.25 an hour or less. The Department’s report also found:
- Adjusted for inflation, the Minnesota minimum fell from $8.36 in 1974 to $6.15 in 2011.
- Of all Minnesota hourly workers paid $7.25 or less, 45 percent work in food preparation and serving occupations.
- Those without a high-school degree made up 31 percent of all hourly workers at or below the minimum wage.
Submitted by Chaunce Stanton
Alabama Employers: Know Your Gun Policy Limits
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley recently signed a gun bill into law that allows employees to have firearms in their cars at work. The law also protects businesses from being sued for any harm resulting from the use of those weapons on company property. The law takes effect August 1, 2013 and will affect employers with locations in Alabama.
The law allows employers to prohibit its employees from carrying firearms while on company property or while representing a company’s interests in the course of business. The law, however, does not allow employers to restrict transportation or in-vehicle storage of lawfully possessed firearms and ammunition in privately owned vehicles. Any person with a valid concealed-carry permit can transport and store loaded weapons in their vehicles – on or off company parking lots and transportation routes.
Even without a permit, a driver in Alabama is allowed to carry an unloaded weapon, as long as it is not readily accessible. Alabama also recognizes concealed-weapons permits with other states.
Alabama is among nineteen states that have enacted “guns-at-work” or “parking lot” laws that limit employers’ right to restrict firearms on company property.
2013 State and Federal Minimum Wage Rates
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With ten states increasing their minimum wage rates in 2013, it’s a great time to make sure all your locations have the most updated required postings. The ten states increasing their 2013 minimum wage rates are:
- Arizona – $7.80
- Colorado – $7.78
- Florida – $7.79
- Missouri – $7.35
- Montana – $7.80
- Ohio – $7.85
- Oregon – $8.95
- Rhode Island – $7.75
- Vermont – $8.60
- Washington – $9.19
By clicking on “order now” you can select the latest GovDocs state-on-one and federal-on-one posters, which contain all required postings for most U.S. employers.
| Minimum Wage Rate |
Effective Date |
Updated Postings |
|
| Federal | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Alabama | $7.25 (Federal rate) |
7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Alaska | $7.75 | 1/1/2012 | Order Now |
| Arizona | $7.80 | 1/1/2013 | Order Now |
| Arkansas | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| California | $8.00 | 1/1/2008 | Order Now |
| Colorado | $7.78 | 1/1/2013 | Order Now |
| Connecticut | $8.25 | 1/1/2010 | Order Now |
| Delaware | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| District of Columbia | $8.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Florida | $7.79 | 1/1/2013 | Order Now |
| Georgia | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Hawaii | $7.25 | 1/1/2007 | Order Now |
| Idaho | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Illinois | $8.25 | 7/1/2010 | Order Now |
| Indiana | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Iowa | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Kansas | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Kentucky | $7.25 | 7/1/2009 | Order Now |
| Louisiana | $7.25 (Federal rate) |
7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Maine | $7.50 | 10/1/2009 | Order Now |
| Maryland | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Massachusetts | $8.00 | 1/1/2008 | Order Now |
| Michigan | $7.40 | 7/1/2008 | Order Now |
| Minnesota | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Mississippi | $7.25 (Federal rate) |
7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Missouri | $7.35 | 1/1/2013 | Order Now |
| Montana | $7.80 | 1/1/2013 | Order Now |
| Nebraska | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Nevada | $8.25 | 1/1/2010 | Order Now |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 | 9/1/2008 | Order Now |
| New Jersey | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| New Mexico | $7.50 | 1/1/2009 | Order Now |
| New York | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| North Carolina | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| North Dakota | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Ohio | $7.85 | 1/1/2013 | Order Now |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Oregon | $8.95 | 1/1/2013 | Order Now |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Rhode Island | $7.75 | 1/1/2013 | Order Now |
| South Carolina | $7.25 (Federal rate) |
7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| South Dakota | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Tennessee | $7.25 (Federal rate) |
7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Texas | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Utah | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Vermont | $8.60 | 1/1/2013 | Order Now |
| Virginia | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Washington | $9.19 | 1/1/2013 | Order Now |
| West Virginia | $7.25 | 7/1/2008 | Order Now |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |
| Wyoming | $7.25 | 7/24/2009 | Order Now |