Under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, the federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt employees is $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009. This covers most private and public employment in the United States, although there are some exceptions. Many states also have their own minimum wage laws. In cases where an employee is subject to both the state and federal minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher of the two minimum wages.
That is precisely the case in Florida. On June 1, 2011, Florida's minimum wage will increase to $7.31 per hour for all hours worked by covered nonexempt employees. Therefore, most employers in Florida will be required to pay the higher minimum wage of $7.31 per hour. For "tipped employees", meaning those employees who receive at least $30.00 in tips from customers per month, employers need only pay a direct hourly wage of $4.29, which is an increase from the previous $4.23 per hour.
If you believe that you are not being paid the minimum wage or you believe that you are owed overtime compensation, contact Santiago Padilla, Law Offices of Santiago J. Padilla, P.A. as soon as possible. Based in Miami, Florida, we represent workers throughout South Florida in overtime compensation cases. To set up an initial consultation, you can contact us through the Internet or call us at (305) 358-1949.
