Measures to raise the federal minimum wage to $6.25 per hour, up from the current $5.15 per hour, failed in the Senate last week. One measure, introduced by Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass) as an amendment to a spending bill, was rejected in a 51-47 vote, and a similar GOP-introduced bill went down in a 57-42 vote. The federal minimum wage hasn’t seen an increase since the current rate was set in 1997.
The HR Management & Compliance Report: How To Comply with California Wage & Hour Law, explains everything you need to know to stay in compliance with the state’s complex and ever-changing rules, laws, and regulations in this area. Coverage on bonuses, meal and rest breaks, overtime, alternative workweeks, final paychecks, and more.
Proponents of a boost in the minimum wage argued that Hurricane Katrina highlighted the poverty situation in the U.S., and that a single parent with two kids earning the minimum wage earns $4,500 below the poverty level. Opponents countered that upping the minimum wage can have the unintended effect of working against the poor, as a boost could cause small businesses to lay off workers or even close up shop.
Note that the hourly minimum wage for California workers is currently $6.75.