Increases Took Effect at Start of New Year
Following a year of concerted efforts at the
local, state and national levels to increase the minimum wage, the minimum increased in 21 states at the start of the new year. In four states, Alaska,
Arkansas, Nebraska and North Dakota, the increases were approved by referendums
on election day in November. In another eight – Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland,
Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia – increases
were approved by the state legislatures. In another nine, the wage will
increase by only a small amount as it is adjusted for the rise in cost of
living.
What This Means for Small Business:
Small businesses are far less able than their larger counterparts to deal with
forced increases in wages, and the state increases deny entrepreneurs the right
to determine the compensation of their employees.
Additional Reading:
USA Today runs a roundup of state minimum
wage increases.
