Minimum Wage Update
December 20, 2018
By Jason W. Douthit
Washington: Effective January 1, 2019, the minimum wage rate in Washington will increase to $12.00 per hour. Employers can pay workers under 16 years old 85 percent of the minimum wage ($10.20 per hour in 2019).
The
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) enforces Washington’s wage-and-hour laws, which includes the minimum wage. Complete information about Washington state’s minimum wage is available on the L&I
website, including details about handling overtime, rest breaks and meals. There is also a minimum wage announcement online that employers can print and post. Employers and workers may also call 1-866-219-7321 for more information.
Seattle, SeaTac, and Tacoma have their own minimum wage rates. The minimum wage for large Seattle employers (employers with more than 500 employees worldwide) is $16.00 per hour in 2019. Small Seattle employers (500 or fewer employees worldwide) are subject to an hourly minimum wage of $15.00 (though small Seattle employers may pay an hourly wage of $12.00 if contributing at least $3.00 per hour toward an employee’s medical benefits or reported tips. SeaTac’s minimum hourly wage for 2019 is $16.09 for hospitality and transportation industry employers (employers not within either industry will be subject to Washington’s $12.00 hourly minimum wage). Tacoma’s 2019 hourly minimum wage of $12.35 comes in just above Washington state’s hourly minimum wage of $12.00.
We will continue to monitor wage and hour developments. Please feel free to contact Bullard Law with any questions regarding minimum wages or any other labor, employment and employee benefits issues.
Content ©2018, Bullard Law. All Rights Reserved.
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