Wage and hour laws can be tricky for employees to understand. While it may seem like someone is being paid fairly, as was the case with the cheerleaders we discussed in a previous case, that may not always be true.
Starting in 2013, there was a series of annual changes that led up to the current minimum wage of $9.00. At the end of December in 2013 the minimum wage went up to $8.00. It progressed to $8.75 at the end of 2014 and hit $9.00 on December 31, 2015.
If an employee is tipped, the combined cash wages and tips need to satisfy the minimum wage. That means that if a hospitality employee earns $7.50 an hour, that employee should have a tip credit of $1.50.
The state of New York also has a minimum wage for fast food workers. Everywhere but New York City the minimum wage is $9.75 for these employees. In New York City the rate is $10.50 per hour. The state has a plan to increase this minimum wage to $15.00 an hour everywhere in the state by 2021.
Although many individuals who are in urgent need of a job may take just about any work in order to make ends meet, it’s important that this sense of desperation doesn’t lead employers to break the law. No matter what type of work you do, it’s important that you get paid fairly for the time and effort you put in for that company. You deserve to have your rights protected.