It's 2017: Are You Ready For State and Local Employment Law
Changes?
By Karleen Kos, PSAI Executive Director
As an annual event, each New Year brings numerous
employment - related laws on the state and local levels. While
the PSAI simply doesn't have the resources to keep up with all
of them, we do our best to give you a heads up about what you
should be thinking a bout and learning about in your area.
Be aware. State and local governments may enact their own
employment laws that are more stringent than federal law. For
example, a city may impose a higher minimum wage rate than the federal minimum wage or extend pr otections to
groups not covered by federal statutes. Take the time to review the laws that apply to your locality. When you do,
be sure they apply to your company size ; some laws may exempt certain small employers. Some of the more
common types of annual c hanges that may impact your business follow.
Minimum wage increases. Determine if there is any change to the minimum wage in your locality. Twenty - one
(21) states are slated to put 2017 minimum wage increases into effect at some point during the coming y ear. Most –
but not all – of the changes go into effect with the new year, and they don't always apply to every employer or
employee group in the same way. Be sure to check with the relevant employment - related agency in your area or
review this handy resou rce at www.P ayWizard.org.
Here is a list of changes effective on December 31, 2016 or January 1, 2017:
AK $9.80 per hour
AR $8.50 per hour
AZ $10.00 per hour
CA $10.50 per hour for employers with 26 or more employees
CT $10.10 per hour
CO $9.30 per hour
FL $8.10 per hour
HI $9.25 per hour
MA $11.00 per hour
ME $9.00 per hour
MI $8.90 per hour
MO $7.70 per hour
MT $8.15 per hour
NJ $8.44 per hour
NY
$9.00 per hour ($11 per hour for NYC employers with 11 or
more employees (large employers) and $10.50 per hour for
NYC employers with 10 or fewer employees).
OH $8.15 per hour
SD $8.65 per hour
VT $10.00 per hour
WA
$11.00 per hour
W EEKLY EDITION JAN 4, 2017
P AGE 3
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
