Vision Payroll

The federal minimum wage will increase to $7.25 on Friday, July 24, 2009. Therefore, all work performed after July 23, 2009 should be compensated at the higher rate. In addition, the minimum wage will also increase to $7.25 in the following areas: Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Also, the minimum wage in the District of Columbia will increase to $8.25. Contact Vision Payroll if you have any questions on the minimum wage increases.

Following an investigation, the US Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit seeking more than $5 million in underpaid overtime. The suit was filed against CEMEX, Inc., a Houston-based provider of cement and concrete products. Employees in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas were allegedly underpaid overtime hours for piece rate and incentive bonus pay. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires that employees eligible for overtime be paid at one and one-half times their regular rate of pay, which should include most commissions, bonuses, and incentive pay. Vision Payroll provides a continuing series on the FLSA, but you should contact your labor attorney with specific questions on overtime hours and pay rates.

Several states have minimum wage increases effective for work performed after July 23, 2008. Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Virginia all have increases to $6.55 to match the federal minimum wage. The District of Columbia minimum wage increases to $7.55. Different minimum wages may be paid to certain classes of employees in some situations. Contact Vision Payroll if you have any questions on minimum wage law changes.