The current minimum wage in New York is $7.25 per hour, which is the federal minimum wage. However, the NYS Legislature has passed legislation that will increase the minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $9.00 per hour over three years, beginning with:
$8.00 on December 31, 2013
$8.75 on December 31, 2014
$9.00 on December 21, 2015
The legislation is included in the new budget, which was approved on March 29, 2013.
Increases for tipped workers are not included. The current minimum wage in NY for workers who receive tips is currently $4.90 per hour for resort hotel workers, $5.00 per hour for food service workers, $5.50 per hour for car wash workers and $5.65 per hour for other service employees.
If tips aren’t sufficient to reach minimum wage, the employer is required to pay the employee minimum wage. However, for tipped workers, the minimum wage will remain at $7.25 per hour for now. Reports indicate that an increase will be addressed at a later date.
Alan B. Pearl, Esq.
Chief Operating Officer