06/25/2008
State
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NFIB/Alabama State Director Rosemary Elebash and Congressman Mike Rogers |
NFIB co-hosts luncheon for Congressman Mike Rogers
NFIB/Alabama State Director Rosemary Elebash co-hosted a luncheon honoring U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (Anniston) earlier this month. Rep. Rogers represents Alabama's 3rd Congressional District. Rogers, a former NFIB member who served in the Alabama Legislature, has a 100 percent voting record with NFIB in the 108th Congress.
NFIB member finalists for 2008 awards
The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce selected NFIB members Booster Inc. (owned by Jack Parks), Carol Villa Pharmacy (owned by David Saalwaechter) and M.S. Faulk and Sons Inc. (owned by Marvin and Joseph Faulk) as finalists for the 2008 Small Business of the Year.
Finalists must be locally-owned, for-profit businesses that are at least three years old and have fewer than 100 employees. Finalists must show significant growth in one or more of the following areas: job creation and net revenues, innovation in operations, facing adversity and community involvement.
Congratulations to these NFIB members!
Alabama high school seniors awarded scholarships
NFIB's Young Entrepreneur Foundation this month announced the Alabama recipients of the sixth annual NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards. This scholarship program is designed to reward and encourage entrepreneurial talents among high school students. The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award recipients will attend the university, college, community college or vocational/technical institute of their choice with $1,000-$10,000 in tuition assistance from the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation.
The 2008 YEF Award winners from Alabama are:
- NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards:
- Austin High School student Stephen Gustin of Decatur
- Paul Bryant High School student William Roane of Tuscaloosa
- Oak Mountain High School student Clay Kyzar of Birmingham
- NFIB /Phyllis Kennedy Young Entrepreneur Award
- Mountain Brook High School student Benjamin Leaf of Birmingham
- NFIB/Alabama Leadership Council Young Entrepreneur Award
- Brooks High School student Andrew Thigpen of Killen
Federal
IRS listens to NFIB on gas prices
On June 23, the IRS announced it was raising the standard mileage rates for businesses from the 50.5 cent rate to 58.5 cents. NFIB, working with members of both the U.S. House and Senate, strongly encouraged the Internal Revenue Service to take this immediate action to help small business owners struggling with record high gas prices.
According to a recent NFIB study, the cost of energy ranks as the second most troubling problem for small business owners, and therefore this increase will undoubtedly help many business owners struggling to afford record high gas prices.
Increase in federal minimum wage approaching
President Bush signed into law the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007. Phase One was implemented on July 23, 2007, bringing the minimum wage to $5.85 an hour.
Beginning this July 23, the minimum wage will increase to $6.55 per hour.
Phase Three: Beginning on July 23, 2009, the minimum wage will be $7.25 per hour.
The minimum wage applies to all employees who meet the current criteria set forth in the Fair Labor Standards Act. The FLSA requires employers to pay covered non-exempt employees at least the federal minimum wage. Exceptions include:
- Employees younger than 20 years old.
- "Tipped" employees.
- Full-time students who are employed in retail or service stores, agriculture, or colleges and universities, but only if the employer first obtains a certificate from the Department of Labor under the "full-time Student Program."
- Student learners who are high school students at least 16 year old and enrolled in vocational education courses, but only if they employer first obtains a student learner certificate from the appropriate Regional Office of the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.
- Handicapped workers whose earning or productive capacity is impaired by physical or mental deficiency or injury may be paid less than the standard minimum wage, but only if the employer first obtains a certificate from the appropriate Regional Office of the Wage and Hour Division.
Many states also have minimum wage laws, including laws specific to tipped employees. If state and federal laws provide for different minimum wage rates, the employee must be paid the higher of the wage rates.
In addition, businesses will need to update the Department of Labor's required "Federal Minimum Wage" poster.
Labor posters and State posters available to NFIB members
The National Federation of Independent Business has established a partnership with the Federal Wage and Labor Law Institute (FWLLI) to offer our members one complimentary All-In-One Federal Labor Law poster per calendar year.
- NFIB members may request one complimentary federal all-in-one labor law poster by visiting www.NFIB.com/federalposter (Limit one per year)
- NFIB members can order additional federal and state labor law posters at 50 percent off by visiting www.fwlli.com/NFIB.
If you have any additional questions about how this new minimum wage will affect your business, NFIB members can contact the free NFIB Employment Law Hotline. For more information on the hotline, please contact 800-NFIB NOW, or 800-634-2669.
If you have any questions, please contact the Montgomery office at 334-264-2261.
Sincerely,
Rosemary Elebash
NFIB/Alabama State Director
Rosemary.elebash@nfib.org
