Minimum Wage Hike Takes Effect December 31st

The minimum wage is increasing again as part of the multi-year plan enacted in 2016. Along with the minimum wage increasing the allowances, credits and minimum weekly salary for employees to be exempt from the state overtime rule also increase whenever the minimum wage goes up (by the same percentage) so they’re increasing too.

In an attempt to make it easier for you to figure out what the rates are that apply to your business, we’ve prepared a compilation of the rates, organized by region, for your reference. We’ve listed the cash wage for tips, the tip credit and the weekly salary for employees to qualify for the overtime rule exemption on the wage chart along with a brief explanation of key terms used. We’ve also listed the uniform maintenance allowances and meal credits.

The state’s Wage Theft Prevention Act requires employers to provide their employees with a “Notice of Pay” form at the time of hire and upon a change in their rate of pay – including when the employees’ pay changes as a result of a change in the law. As a result you must provide all of your employees who are affected by the increase in the minimum wage with a “Notice of Pay” form on or before December 31, 2017. This includes your tipped workers that are being paid the allowed cash wage, even if the cash wage isn’t increasing, because the minimum wage (which your employees must earn when their cash wage and tips are combined) is going up.

In addition to providing employees with the Notice of Pay, New York employers must provide their employees with detailed paystubs that contain the following information:

• The dates of work covered by the paycheck
• The name of the employee
• The name, address and phone number of the employer
• The rates of pay (regular or overtime) and basis of pay (hourly, daily, weekly, salary, etc.)
• Gross wages
• A detailed listing of deductions
• A listing of any allowances claimed as part of the minimum wage
• Net wages