So you have been hearing that the minimum wage in New York is going to be $15 per hour, but when exactly will residents of the Hudson Valley be seeing this increase? The short answer is, not for some time.

The New York State budget that was passed (on time) April 1, 2016 included the following timetable for the increase. Note the dates that it will take effect and the regions. From www.governor.ny.gov:

  • For workers in New York City employed by large businesses (those with at least 11 employees), the minimum wage would rise to $11 at the end of 2016, then another $2 each year after, reaching $15 on 12/31/2018.
  • For workers in New York City employed by small businesses (those with 10 employees or fewer), the minimum wage would rise to $10.50 by the end of 2016, then another $1.50 each year after, reaching $15 on 12/31/2019.
  • For workers in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties, the minimum wage would increase to $10 at the end of 2016, then $1 each year after, reaching $15 on 12/31/2021.
  • For workers in the rest of the state, the minimum wage would increase to $9.70 at the end of 2016, then another .70 each year after until reaching $12.50 on 12/31/2020 – after which will continue to increase to $15 on an indexed schedule to be set by the Director of the Division of Budget in consultation with the Department of Labor.

Notice that in the last sentence of the "rest of the state" guideline that the Director of the Budget along with the NY Department of Labor could then turn around at the beginning of 2021 decide to halt the increase based on current economic conditions or on the converse, go ahead and green light the advance to $15.

If you have questions regarding the minimum wage law or other labor issue, you can call the New York Labor Department at 1-888-4-NYSDOL.

 


 

More From WRRV-WRRB