NEW YORK, NEW YORK — The New York State Department of Labor has announced that the minimum wage will go up starting next year. Attorney Steven Mitchell Sack, “The Employee’s Lawyer®,” author of his latest book “FIRED! Protect Your Rights & FIGHT BACK If You’re Terminated, Laid Off, Downsized, Restructured, Forced to Resign or Quit,” and host of the podcast “Know Your Job Rights with Attorney Steven Sack,” urges state employers to be mindful of this change when setting their workers’ salaries.
Effective January 1, 2024, the minimum wage will increase to $16.00 from $15.00 an hour for workers in Long Island, New York City, and Westchester County. For the rest of the state, employees will receive a raise from $14.20 to $15.00 an hour.
Salary rates have also been established for those who rely on tips. Tipped service workers such as barbers, hairstylists, and taxi drivers in Long Island, New York, and Westchester County will earn a cash wage of $13.35 an hour and a $2.65 tip credit. Tipped food service workers like waiters, waitresses, and baristas who work in these regions will receive a cash wage of $10.65 an hour and a tip credit of $5.35. For those outside the aforementioned areas, tipped service employees will receive a cash wage of $12.50 hourly, with a tip credit of $2.50; food service workers who are tipped will be paid an hourly cash wage of $10.00 and a tip credit of $5.00.
Home care aides will also see a bump in their salaries, according to the state Labor Department. Those who work in Long Island, New York City, and Westchester will receive an hourly wage of $18.55, compared to $17.00 the year before. For those throughout the rest of the state, they will see their salaries rise from $16.20 to $17.55 an hour.
“Soon, all employers who have hourly workers on their payroll must make the necessary adjustments,” Mr. Sack says. “These new rates must be set, as mandated by the state. If you receive an hourly wage and are not being paid the current rate, please contact an employment attorney immediately.”
