This article appeared on the wire last November.
On November 2, 2004, Florida voters have approved an amendment to the state Constitution
that provides for a state minimum wage. This amendment creates a Florida minimum wage covering
all employees in the state covered by the federal minimum wage. The law will go into effect May 2, 2005,
setting the minimum wage at $6.15 per hour.
The wage would then be reevaluated annually based on
the rate of inflation. It provides for enforcement, including double damages for unpaid wages, attorney's fees,
and fines by the state of $1,000 for each violation. It forbids retaliation against employees for exercising this right.
Should an employer retaliate against an employee who complains of not receiving the new minimum wage by
terminating that employee, the court can order the employee to be reinstated. Florida's new minimum wage law
has stiff penalties that should encourage employers to comply. If you feel that you are not being paid correctly,
contact us immediately.
Prior to this date, there was not a minimum wage regulation in the State of Florida.
This law, affecting hourly employees only, is expected to impact 300,000 workers in Florida.
Small businesses are already calculating reduction in their workforce or increasing prices to compensate for this $1.00 per hour raise.
To our readers:
How do you think this will impact the Florida labor force and economy?
