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Minimum Wage Rate Receives a Boost

Minimum wage employees in Florida will see a slight increase in their pay.   The federal minimum wage increased to $7.25 on July 24, 2009.  Florida's minimum wage was $7.21 per hour, effective January 1, 2009. However, when deciding whether the federal or state minimum wage applies, federal law directs that businesses must pay the higher of the two.

The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping, and youth employment standards affecting employees in the private sector and in Federal, State, and Local governments. This increase is the last of three provided by the enactment of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, which amended the FLSA to increase the federal minimum wage in three steps: to $5.85 per hour effective July 24, 2007; to $6.55 per hour effective July 24, 2008; and now to $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009. Additional information on the increase in minimum wage can be found at http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/flsa/. 

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