Today is probably a great day for workers earning the minimum wage in Maryland to walk into their boss’ offices and ask for a raise. I would even be so bold as to predict that by Friday those workers will see a fifty-cent per hour increase in their pay. Psychic predictions aside, the Maryland Minimum Wage Act of 2014 imposes a schedule of minimum-wage increases, one of which takes effect Friday, July 1st, 2016.
On July 1st, the minimum wage in Maryland will rise from $8.25 per hour to $8.75 per hour.
Business owners should have this poster up in a common area in the workplace. Also, it is smart to take this moment, if you haven’t already, to touch base with the professionals that support your business. Contact your payroll services provider to ensure that this and future minimum wage increases are accounted for; your Certified Public Accountant to give you an idea of the costs of, and how to plan financially for, this change; and your employment attorney to make sure that you are in compliance with state and federal minimum wage and record keeping requirements.
Employees should pay attention to paychecks and make sure the increase is addressed in future paychecks. If the increase is not included in future paychecks, talk to your boss. Maryland’s Division of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, recommends that you go to your employer first to address wage issues and see if the issue can be resolved quickly. You cannot be retaliated against by your boss for filing an internal complaint about your rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Play nice this Fourth of July weekend folks, and if you have any questions about how this or any other employment law or regulation will affect you or your business, the employment attorneys at Council Baradel are here to help.
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