California Minimum Wage Increases to $10 in 2016
As of Jan. 1, 2016, the minimum wage throughout the state of California increased from $9 to $10.1 This increase, which will reportedly cost the state about $250 million, has been lauded by labor leaders and advocates, as well as by some lawmakers.
In fact, Gov. Jerry Brown has remarked that lawmakers had a “moral responsibility” to increase the minimum wage to $10 in 2016 and, in doing so, help full-time minimum wage earners move another step away from poverty.
State Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) has expressed similar support for the statewide minimum wage increase, stating that:
Our bottom line is it should not be legal to pay a sub-poverty wage in California… [A minimum wage increase would] lift up poor Californians and reward all hardworking employees with the resources they need to put food on the table for their families.
Although there are not currently any additional statewide minimum wage increases planned for the coming years in California, voters in the state may change that this November. That is because voters will have the chance to vote on two initiatives2, both proposing to increase the state minimum wage to $15 over the next few years.
Los Angeles, San Francisco to See Additional Minimum Wage Increases in the Coming Years
As workers, employers, legislators and labor advocates remain poised to see if additional statewide minimum wage hikes will be approved by voters this November, some larger counties in the state – including Los Angeles and San Francisco counties – have already approved annualized minimum wage increases that would bring the minimum wage up to $15:
- By 2020 in Los Angeles
- By 2018 in San Francisco.
What do you think about the new minimum wage in California? Do you agree that increases to the California minimum wage should be annualized to match those planned for Los Angeles or San Francisco? Tell us what you think on Facebook & Google+.
Contact a Sherman Oaks Employment Lawyer at Koron & Podolsky, LLP
If your employer has failed to properly compensate you for your labor, contact a Sherman Oaks employment lawyer at Koron & Podolsky, LLP to find out more about your options for justice and financial recovery.
Known for providing our clients with aggressive legal advocacy, our lawyers are exceptional litigators who are dedicated to protecting our clients’ rights and advancing their interests through all phases of litigation.
Call us today at 818-380-3077, or email us using the contact form on this page for more information about your potential case and how to proceed. From Sherman Oaks, our lawyers provide superior representation to people throughout Los Angeles County, Orange County, Ventura County, and the state of California.
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1: According to the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR)
2: California $15 Minimum Wage Initiatives