6 States to have new minimum wage rate in 2007

Have you received in the mail a "Final Notice" or "ALERT You Must Post New 2007 Federal labor Law Notices"? In most cases this is just a sales gimmick to make you buy poster from that company. The only year end changes that need to be made are for those state that have a new minimum wage rate for 2006 or for most in 2007. If you are an employer with employees in: Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Montana, Nevada or Ohio you need to contact the state Department of Labor and request a new poster. Labor Law poster are free from the state and federal agencies. Just get online or call to order new poster. 

If you are a client of StaffScapes one will be delivered once the state finalize the poster.  To request an extra poster call 303-466-7864

New Colorado Minimum Wage Poster

The new Colorado Minimum Wage Poster is now available.  StaffScapes has recently sent out the new Colorado Minimum Wage Poster to all clients to replace old information. 

Effective January 1, 2007 the new Minimum Wage rate is $6.85.

Please contact StaffScapes if you have not received your poster or would like other required posters at 303-466-7864.

PEO’s (Professional Employer Organization) are set to help their clients comply with the proposed minimum wage increase

USA Today reports:

America’s businesses are at odds over minimum wage legislation, but the rift has little to do with a $2.10 hourly raise.

A Senate bill that could win final passage this week is pitting small businesses and retailers that would benefit from tax breaks in the bill against the larger corporations and manufacturers that would have to pay for them.

At issue are tax breaks put in the Senate bill as sweeteners to attract Republican votes for the minimum wage increase. The legislation would increase the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour in three steps over two years.

For the full article go to www.usatoday.com or click on the link below. As a Professional Employer organization StaffScapes will help all clients implement any new minimum wage or other federal labor law change. Contact StaffScapes for further information on the impact Hr outsourcing can have on your business.

See Also

• USA Today
  Min wage divides

Kentucky and New Mexico increase minimum wage.

Kentucky and New Mexico will join 29 other states that have increased minimum wages above the federal rate of $5.15 per hour. 

Kentucky’s minimum wage will step up to $7.25 per hour using a three tier process over the next two years.  Beginning July 1, 2007 the minimum wage will increase to $5.85. The minimum wage will then increase to $6.55 beginning July 1, 2008, and will reach its $7.25 per hour goal beginning July 1, 2009. 

New Mexico’s minimum wage will increase to $6.50 per hour starting January 1, 2008, and then to $7.50 per hour beginning January 1, 2009.  New Mexico has allowed several occupations to be exempt from this new minimum wage provision.  Te occupations exempt are those “principally engaged in the range production of livestock or in milk production” and those “engaged in the handling, drying, packing, packaging, processing, freezing or canning of any agricultural or horticultural commodity in its unmanufactured state.”

If you would like more information concerning state or federal employment law changes please contact StaffScapes, Inc. at (303)466-7864 or visit our website at www.staffscapes.com.

Changes to Federal Minimum Wage

On May 25, President Bush signed legislation that increases federal minimum wage to $7.25 per hour in three steps over a period of 26 months.  The impact on employers will vary based on the state in which their employees work.

• 5.85 per hour (July 24, 2007)
• 6.55 per hour (July 24, 2008)
• 7.25 per hour (July 24, 2009)

If the state where the employees work in has a higher state minimum wage, the higher wage would apply, whichever is most beneficial to the employee.

StaffScapes will have the updated federal labor law poster when it becomes available.  Please contact us for more information regarding these changes or if you have questions about being in compliance.  Contact us at www.staffscapes.com or 303.466.7864.

New poster available

As a client of StaffScapes you should be receiving your new Federal Minumum Wage Poster that was effective July 24, 2007. 

If you have not received this poster please contact our office. If you have any questions or need other posters please contact us at 303-466-7864.

StaffScapes keeps clients up to date on new laws and changes to employment law, please contacts our offices if you are interested in learning more about our services.

New CO Minimum Wage

Effective January 1st, 2008 the new Colorado minimum wage is $7.02.  You should be receiving your new posters to be posted with the other notices for employees.

If you have any questions regarding the application of this order please contact StaffScapes.  StaffScapes can provide you with all of your required posters, please contact Lora Manternach if you need posters at 303-466-7864.

Minimum Increases July 24

Federal minimum wage will increase again on July 24, 2008 to $6.55.  This is the second of the 3 step increase put in place in 2007.  July 24, 2009 the federal minimum wage will increase again to $7.25.

In addition employers need to check the state minimum wage and compensate employees the higher of the two wages.  For example, in Colorado the state minimum wage is $7.02, so employers are required to pay at least $7.02 per hour.

For up to date posters or additional information on wage requirements contact StaffScapes, your Human Resourse Solution Center.  www.staffscapes.com or  303-466-7864.

Compliance poster made easy with a PEO

Over the next few months business will be hit hard with adds selling compliance poster. some of these adds sounds like a demand letter from the IRS requiring you to update every year. Certain poster did change this year but not all posters have changed an example of this is minimum wage. Colorado has been constant for the year but Federal minimum wage changed this summer. If your state poster is current then all you have to do is update the federal wage poster.

Contact StaffScapes if you need order updated poster. We can send you one or a laminated set for all state and federal requirements.

The Colorado Department of Labor just announced the new minimum wage rate for 2009

The minimum wage rule enacted in 2006 to the Colorado Constitution requires the state’s minimum wage rate to be adjusted each year for inflation. The inflation adjustment is based on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Denver-Boulder-Greeley combined area. This adjustment is based on the difference between the CPI-U from the first half of the prior year and the first half of the current year. The CPI-U increased 3.7% from the first half of 2007 compared to the first half of 2008.  This adjustment will increase the 2009 minimum wage rate to $7.28 per hour, effective January 1, 2009.  The Tip credit for 2009 has not changed so the minimum wage rate for "Tipped Employees" will be $4.26 ($7.28 - $3.02).

For More information please go to the Colorado Department of Labor’s home page at: www.coworkforce.com.

Inflation adjusted minimum wage rate to increase in nine state on January 1, 2009.

Over the past few years states have moved to have statutory requirements that the minimum wage is to be indexed to that state inflation rate.  One of the most recent state to enact this law is Colorado who’s minimum wage rate will go from $7.02 to $7.28 in 2009.

The nine states are:

Arizona

Colorado

Florida

Missouri

Montana

Ohio

Vermont

Washington

For more detailed information about minimum wage and how it effects payroll, overtime calculations, certified jobs and more contact StaffScapes.

See Also

• Colorado Minimun Wage
  Co blog on DOL increase in Minumum Wage
• Payroll
  payroll maintenance

Federal minimum wage increases Friday

The federal minimum hourly wage will increase this Friday (July 24, 2009) to $7.25 per hour. This is the last and final increase put in place by The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007. Many states have a seperate state minimum wage different from the federal.  Employers are required to pay which ever (federal or state) minimum wage amount is higher to their employees.  Colorado’s minimum wage of $7.28 per hour is higher than the required federal minimum wage, therefore Colorado employers will need to use the states minimum wage.  

The Colorado Department of Labor just announced the new minimum wage rate for 2010

The minimum wage rule enacted in 2006 to the Colorado Constitution requires the state’s minimum wage rate to be adjusted each year for inflation. The inflation adjustment is based on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Denver-Boulder-Greeley combined area. This adjustment is based on the difference between the CPI-U from the first half of the prior year and the first half of the current year. The CPI-U decreased 0.6% from the first half of 2008 compared to the first half of 2009.  This adjustment will decrease the 2010 minimum wage rate to $7.24 per hour, effective January 1, 2010.  The Tip credit for 2010 has not changed so the minimum wage rate for "Tipped Employees" will be $4.22 ($7.24 - $3.02).

The current federal minimum wage ($7.25 per hour) is higher than the new state minimum wage, so the higher federal rate will need to be used by all employers. Colorado employers that are allowed to use the tip credit will need to use the state’s minimum wage rate for tipped employees of $4.22 since this is higher than the federal rate. 

For More information please go to the Colorado Department of Labor’s home page at: www.coworkforce.com.

See Also

• CPI-U decreased 0.6%
  Denver-Boulder-Greeley CPI-U decreased 0.6%

New rules and new minimum wage rules can make being an employer a confusing job.

One week Colorado minimum wage is higher than the Federal min wage and the next week it is lower? What is an employer to do? On January 1st 2010 the wage will drop 1 penny below the Federal Minimum wage. Employers need to pay the higher of the two wages at the least to keep out of trouble. If you want to lower your employees wage you can but be careful about the negative effects that can have around the work site.

For help with HR, Payroll and workers compensation in Colorado give us a call at 303-466-7864

The minimum wage rule enacted in 2006 to the Colorado Constitution requires the state’s minimum wage rate to be adjusted each year for inflation. The inflation adjustment is based on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Denver-Boulder-Greeley combined area. This adjustment is based on the difference between the CPI-U from the first half of the prior year and the first half of the current year. The CPI-U increased 1.7% from the first half of 2009 compared to the first half of 2010.  This adjustment will increase the 2011 minimum wage rate to $7.36 per hour, effective January 1, 2011.  The Tip credit for 2011 has changed, so the minimum wage rate for “Tipped Employees” will be $4.34 ($7.36 - $3.02).

The current federal minimum wage ($7.25 per hour) is lower than the new state minimum wage, so the higher state rate will need to be used by all employers. Colorado employers that are allowed to use the tip credit will need to use the state’s minimum wage rate for tipped employees of $4.34 as well. 

For More information please go to the Colorado Department of Labor’s information page.

The Consumer Price Index for Denver Boulder Greeley has increased by 3.8%, which means a new minimum wage rate for 2012. The minimum wage rule enacted in 2006 to the Colorado Constitution requires the state's minimum wage rate to be adjusted each year for inflation. The inflation adjustment is based on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Denver-Boulder-Greeley combined area. This adjustment is based on the difference between the CPI-U from the first half of the prior year and the first half of the current year. This adjustment will increase the 2012 minimum wage rate to an estimated $7.64 per hour, effective January 1, 2012.  The Tip credit for 2012 will again not change, so the minimum wage rate for "Tipped Employees" will be $4.62 ($7.64 - $3.02).

The above quoted rate increase is an estimate based off of the CPI change. The state should officially announce the rate increase sometime late November or early December. StaffScapes will keep you updated once the state announces any additional details.