Employers with employees in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut should expect more than just holiday cheer this New Year. Increases in those state’s minimum wages may also bring about increased costs for businesses and organizations that utilize low-wage earners.

New York State’s minimum wage will increase in a series of annual changes as follows: $8 on December 31, 2013; $8.75 on December 31, 2014; and $9 on December 31, 2015.

New Jersey voters recently voted to follow suit and increase the minimum wage a full dollar to $8.25, effective January 1, 2014. The vote came after Democrats took steps last year to place the minimum wage bill on the November 2013 ballot as a constitutional amendment in an effort to avoid a veto by Governor Chris Christie, who had criticized the bill’s automatic adjustment provision linking future minimum wage increases to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.

Finally, Connecticut, which unlike New York and New Jersey already boasted a minimum wage higher than the current federal rate of $7.25, will see its state minimum wage increase to $8.70 (from $8.25) on January 1, 2014. The minimum wage will jump to $9 on January 1, 2015.

A complete map of state minimum wage laws can be found on the U.S. Department of Labor’s website.

If you have any questions regarding wage hour laws or compliance, contact:

• Caroline J. Berdzik (609.986.1314; cberdzik@goldbergsegalla.com)
• Sean P. Beiter (716.566.5409; sbeiter@goldbergsegalla.com)
• Matthew C. Van Vessem (716.566.5476; mvanvessem@goldbergsegalla.com)
• Or another member of the Goldberg Segalla Labor and Employment Practice Group.