LABOR LAW NEWS
Santa Monica Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave
Published March 16, 2016
The City of Santa Monica, California amended its municipal code to require a citywide minimum wage and paid sick leave for workers, and a living wage for hotel workers.
Santa Monica Minimum Wage Schedule and Hotel Worker Living Wage Schedule
The City has a three-tier minimum wage schedule based on a number of employees and whether the business employs hotel workers.
| Effective Date | Non-Hotel Employees | ||
| July 1 | 26 or more workers | 25 or fewer workers | Hotel Workers** |
| 2016 | $10.50 | $13.25 | |
| 2017 | $12.00 | $10.50 | $15.37 |
| 2018 | $13.25 | $12.00 | INDEXED* |
| 2019 | $14.25 | $13.25 | INDEXED* |
| 2020 | $15.00 | $14.25 | INDEXED* |
| 2021 | $15.00 | INDEXED* | |
| 2022 | INDEXED* | INDEXED* | INDEXED* |
*Indexed: The rate may be adjusted annually based on changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPl). The City shall announce the adjusted rates annually January 1 and publish a bulletin announcing the adjusted rates, which take effect July 1 of each year.
**Hotel Workers: The ordinance defines hotel workers as: “…any individual whose primary place of employment is at one or more Hotels and who is employed directly by the Hotel Employer or by a person who has contracted with the Hotel Employer to provide services at the Hotel. Hotel Worker does not include a managerial. supervisory or confidential employee.”
Santa Monica Paid Sick Leave
Workers employed as of July 1, 2016, will begin to accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Employees hired after July 1, 2016 will begin to accrue the same rate of paid sick leave after 90 days of employment.
| Business Size | Accrual Rate | Annual Accrual Cap | Usage Ability |
| 26 or more workers | 1 hour for every 30 hours worked | 72 hours | After 90 days of employment |
| 25 or fewer workers | 1 hour for every 30 hours worked | 40 hours | After 90 days of employment |
Santa Monica Minimum Wage Posting Requirements
Employers must display a notice provided by the City each year in English and Spanish and in any other language spoken by at least five percent of workers. The notice must be displayed “in a conspicuous place at any workplace or job site where any Employee works.
GovDocs continues to monitor the City for the release of the required notice.
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