Total Articles: 10
Florida Minimum Wage Rate Increases to $7.67 Effective January 1, 2012
Executive Summary: Florida's minimum wage rate increases to $7.67 per hour, effective January 1, 2012. Because this is higher than the current federal minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour, covered employers will be required to comply with the higher state minimum wage.
Increase In Minimum Wage Is On The Way
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced that the Florida minimum wage will increase to $7.67 per hour effective January 1, 2012. This is an increase from Florida's current minimum wage of $7.31 per hour, which became effective June 1, 2011, in response to a Florida Circuit Court decision issued earlier this year. Florida's minimum wage is generally recalculated yearly on September 30, based on the Consumer Price Index.
Florida’s Minimum Wage to Increase on January 1, 2012
On November 2, 2004, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment that created Florida’s minimum wage. The minimum wage applies to all employees in the state who are covered by the federal minimum wage. Florida law requires a new minimum wage calculation each year on September 30, based on the Consumer Price Index. If that calculation is higher than the federal rate, the state’s rate then would take effect the following January.
Important Changes to Florida's Unemployment Compensation Law
Executive Summary: Florida Governor Rick Scott has signed new unemployment compensation legislation broadening the meaning of misconduct and adding additional requirements claimants must meet to be eligible for unemployment compensation benefits.
Florida Minimum Wage Increases to $7.31 Effective June 1, 2011
Effective June 1, 2011, Florida's minimum wage will increase to $7.31 per hour. Because this is higher than the current federal minimum wage rate, covered employers will be required to comply with the higher state minimum wage.
New State Minimum Wage Goes Into Effect June 1
A Florida circuit court judge in Tallahassee on May 3 ordered state officials to recalculate the minimum wage to $7.31 per hour for 2011, after finding that the state violated the Florida Constitution by reducing the rate because of deflation (Cadet v. Agency for Workforce Innovation, Fla. Cir. Ct., No. 2011-CA-0072, 5/3/11). In a two-page order, Judge Terry P. Lewis of the Florida Circuit Court, Second Judicial Circuit, also ordered the Agency for Workforce Innovation to publish a notice of the hike and enjoined the state agency from “continuing to withhold” the greater rate.
Florida Employers Face Mid-Year Minimum Wage Increase
In response to a recent Circuit Court decision, the State of Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI) has announced that, effective June 1, 2011, the Florida minimum wage will increase to $7.31 per hour. With this increase, Florida will once again exceed the federal minimum wage, and employers operating within the State will be required to comply with the higher standar
Get Your Summer Camp Compliance in Order
The Florida legislature amended Florida Statute 409.175, the law related to screening requirements for summer camps operated in Florida, effective in August 2010. In essence, the new statute provides Florida's Department of Children and Families with the authority to adopt rules relating to the screening requirements for "summer day camps" and "summer 24-hour camps." Though no rules have been adopted as of yet, the statute itself creates a Level 2 background screening requirement (as defined in Fla. Stat. 435) for all "summer day camp" and "summer 24-hour camp" "personnel."
New Executive Order Requires Florida Agencies to Comply with E-Verify
In one of his first official acts after being sworn into office, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed an Executive Order (EO 11-02) requiring all agencies under the direction of the Governor to use the federal E-Verify system to verify the employment eligibility of their current and prospective employees. EO 11-02 imposes similar E-Verify requirements on state contractors and encourages agencies not under the direction of the Governor to use the E-Verify system. A copy of the Order, signed January 4, 2010, is available at http://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/scott.eo_.two_.pdf. EO 11-02 is effective immediately.
Miami-Dade County Enacts "Wage Theft" Ordinance.
Miami-Dade has become the first county in the nation to adopt a countywide wage theft law, although it likely will not be the last. The Ordinance, which became effective on March 1, 2010, applies to private sector employees and employers, prohibits wage theft, and provides administrative procedures and private causes of action. An employer found to be in violation of the wage theft Ordinance will be required to pay the actual administrative processing and hearing costs as well as restitution to the employee, which would include back wages owed as well as liquidated damages of double that amount and possibly treble damages.
