January 1, 2018, will bring about another minimum wage increase in California. This change is due to Law SB3 which increases the California minimum wage to $15.00 per hour for large employers by the year 2022. Firms with 25 or fewer employees must meet this minimum pay rate by 2023. Once this rate of $15.00 per hour is reached, rates will then increase up to 3.5 percent (rounded to the nearest 10 cents) in relation to inflation. Below is the chart that shows the minimum wage schedule through 2023.

CA, minimum, wage, increase, payroll

If you have employees exempt from overtime, you’ll have to make sure their wages are adjusted, if necessary, due to this change. California labor law requires that anyone not subject to overtime must earn at least twice the minimum wage. Review your pay scale for any employees currently classified as non-exempt. This will help you keep track of whether or not an employee is to receive overtime pay.

It’s also important to make sure you have posted the new labor law poster which reflects this new rate. If an employee’s rate of pay will increase on January 1, they must receive notice from the employer by January 7. However, this notice is not required if the change is reflected on a timely itemized wage statement given no later than January 7.

Remember that if you are in the City of Los Angeles or unincorporated cities under county jurisdiction, there is a different pay scale which must be followed as it goes into effect at a faster rate than the state minimum wage.

Effective Date Employers With 26 or more Employees Employers with 25 or fewer Employees or Non-Profit corporations with 26 or more Employees with approval to pay a deferred rate
7/1/2017 $12.00 $10.50
7/1/2018 $13.25 $12.00
7/1/2019 $14.25

$13.25

7/1/2020 $15.00 $14.25
7/1/2021 $15.00 $15.00 

During the year, an employer may have fewer than 26 employees during some pay periods and 26 or more employees during other pay periods.  An employer with 26 or more employees at any time during a pay period should apply the large-employer minimum wage to all employees for that pay period.

For More information on this topic, see the Department of Industrial Relations post: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/SB3_FAQ.htm

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