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A new year brings many new things and is often time for celebration and festivities. More exciting than belting out Auld Lang Syne and parties, though, is becoming familiar with the influx of new laws, passed in earlier, previously forgotten, legislative sessions or by referendum. Minimum wage increases are only a snippet of the changes that HR professionals need to be familiar with in 2016, but that does not take away from the importance of the issue.

The national movement to increase the federal minimum wage lacks traction in Congress, but that has not stopped the states from acting on their own. Federal contractors, however, will see their minimum wages increase to $10.15/hour per Executive Order from the President. At the state level, the following is a list of those states that will see their minimum wages increase in 2016:

States with an increase effective January 1:

  • Alaska

  • Arkansas

  • California

  • Colorado (inflation adjustment)

  • Connecticut

  • Hawaii

  • Massachusetts

  • Michigan

  • Nebraska

  • New York

  • Rhode Island

  • South Dakota (inflation adjustment)

  • Vermont

  • West Virginia

States with an increase during 2016:

  • Minnesota

  • Maryland

  • Washington D.C.

Thompson Coe and myHRgenius Tip of the Week is not intended as a solicitation, does not constitute legal advice, and does not establish an attorney-client relationship.

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