Minimum Wage Increases in California 2019

The California state passed new laws on April, 2016 regarding the increase on the minimum wage rate to improve the living standards of ordinary employees. The laws were also meant to motivate employees to improve their performance and as well contribute to the general performance of the businesses.

It is very important for every employee to have sufficient knowledge concerning the minimum wage increase in 2019 so that they know their rights and voice their concerns just in the event that their rights are violated. This article thus aims to help all California employees get to know their rights on the California minimum wage laws.

The California minimum wage laws were instated to ensure a gradual increase in the minimum wages by $1 on hourly basis until a minimum wage rate of $15 was reached. As of 1st January, 2019 the expected wage rate is expected to increase to $12 per hour.

Pros of the Minimum Wage Increase

• Employees will earn higher earnings and as a result improve their living standards. They may also be able to save and later invest to start their own businesses. This will in turn be very important in the development of the state as a whole.
• Increase in the workers’ earnings serves as a motivation to hard work in their duties. This will therefore improve their productivity in the businesses and hence contribute to the success of the enterprises.

Cons of the Minimum Wage Increase

Despite the advantages on the increase in the minimum wage rate, businesses will be forced to spend more on the employees wages and hence reduce their total profits. Large businesses are a victim of this since most of the company’s returns are channelled to the employees payments.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Employees have always wondered where to take their wage complaints in case the laws were not adhered to. The United Employees Law Group (UELG) is always ready to listen to every employees’ complaints in California and therefore all workers are encouraged to voice their grievances through the group. Government authorities in the labor sectors are also available for such problems.
• The kind of evidence to provide just in case the wage increase was not implemented by a particular business is also another question bothering workers. Employees can always take their identification documents together with their pay slips to the UELG support team on such matters.
  As an employee, always ensure that you know your rights and speak up when any of them are violated. You can also visit the UELG website more details and for any other workplace disputes.