The Importance Of Minimum Wage Laws

By Eloise Hewitt


Minimum wage rates are different depending on the stew one lives in. However, there is a standard rate which is the federal rate and the state rate never differs by far with this range. Normally, most states will have a lowest limit pay of between 7 and 8 dollars per hour and generally more than forty dollars per week. If you have an establishment and mean to get employees then, you need to know all about the minimum wage laws.

These laws are aimed at cushioning employees against exploitation which would be very rampant in the absence of the law. Through these laws, employees are able to enjoy the fruits of their labor which in turn motivates them to offer quality services to their employers.

Oregon is a state that is taking the least pay very seriously. In fact it is the only state with the highest minimum pay of nine dollars per hour and requires employees to earn extra after working for more than 10 hours. The biggest beneficiaries of these laws are workers in factories and canneries whose job involves using a lot of energy.

It is a requirement for employers in most states to pay their employees a premium for any work done outside the stipulated working hours. This stand may however be reconsidered in case of retail shops or grocery stores which do not normally involve labor intensive activities. Several factors are considered by the company before setting a least pay for its employees such as profitability or even revenue generated at a certain time. These laws only apply when the number of employees reaches ten and above.

If you are living in South Carolina or Tennessee, you should know that whenever you get employed, your employer will set the amount of wages you will be paid. This is because in these states, there no guidelines to show the amount of money people are supposed to be paid. This will safeguard the employer since you will sing an agreement stating the rate to be paid and the amount of work they expect from you.

Whatever that is not covered in the wage laws is covered with the federal fair labor standards act. This means that no matter the state of state wage laws, the employer is legally bound to give reasonable pay for work done. However, the act covers only certain kinds of jobs and so the pay laws cover those that are not included in the act to even the setting and ensure all employees are treated fairly.

One must know that when the state wages are below the federal rates, the federal rates supersedes the state rates and, so they are the reference. This is not the case in states where the least pay rate is higher than the federal rate. The state of Washington is generally the highest in minimum wage rates, and these are $9.32 per hour.

In conclusion, it is prudent for any employer to be extremely cautious when it comes to dealing with employee wages since this may result in being sued and thereby incurring huge losses in terms of fines or even risk jail terms. As such, it is wise to ensure that you always follow the due processes when hiring a person to work for you and always act with good faith in order to be on the right side of the law.




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