Thursday, November 13, 2008

Florida Minimum Wage to Increase to $7.21 in 2009

The state of Florida will increase its minimum wage from $6.79 per hour to $7.21 per hour effective January 1, 2009, according to a recent announcement from Florida's Agency for Workforce Innovation ("AWI").

On November 2, 2004, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment which created the state’s minimum wage; it applies to all employees in the state who are covered by the federal minimum wage. Florida law requires the Agency for Workforce Innovation to calculate a new minimum wage each year based on the Consumer Price Index, and publish the new minimum wage on January 1.

Florida employers should note that federal law requires businesses to pay the higher of either the federal minimum wage or the Florida minimum wage. The Florida minimum wage will be higher than the federal minimum wage until July 24, 2009, when the federal standard will increase to $7.25.

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