Minimum Wage Rates on the Rise and the Possibility of a New Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights

As we head into July, there are a few minimum wage and domestic worker law updates of which household employers should be aware.

Minimum Wage Updates

As of July 1, 2016, the minimum wage in Maryland increased to $8.75 per hour, and in Oregon, the minimum wage is now $9.75 per hour ($9.50 for rural businesses). Washington, D.C. raised its minimum wage to $11.50 per hour, Los Angeles’ and Chicago’s wage rates both increased to $10.50 and in San Francisco, the minimum wage is now $13 per hour.

Household employers in these states or cities should make sure they are paying their employees at least the minimum wage.

Domestic Worker Law Update

Last May, the Illinois legislature passed that state’s Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, sending it to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. The deadline to sign the bill is coming up on July 11th, so check back on GTM’s website for further updates.

If signed, the new law would ensure that domestic workers are covered by minimum wage laws, and mandate that employees get at least 24 hours of rest in each calendar week, and a meal period of 20 minutes for every shift that is at least 7.5 hours long. It would cover live-in employees and those employed by an agency. Domestic workers would also be included in coverage by the Illinois Human Rights Act, which provides protection from sexual harassment, and the Wages of Women and Minors Act, which prevents employers from paying “unreasonable” wages to women and minors.

For more information on how GTM keeps families compliant with wage and labor laws, contact us at (800) 929-9213.