CLIENT ALERT: Federal Mandatory Hourly Minimum Wage Rises to $7.25

On July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage rose from $6.55 per hour to $7.25 per hour.  Most states have their own minimum wage and employers must pay employees the higher of the state or federal minimum wage.  As a result of the increase in the federal minimum wage, minimum wage workers will get a raise in 29 states.  In the remaining 21 states (including Massachusetts) and Washington, D.C., the minimum wage was equal to or higher than $7.25, and thus employees will see no change.

Jeffrey S. Siegel, Esq. is an attorney with Morgan, Brown & Joy, LLP and may be reached at (617) 523-6666 or at jsiegel@morganbrown.com.  Morgan, Brown & Joy, LLP focuses exclusively on representing employers in employment and labor matters.

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