Great news has been released for working Floridians. The
minimum wage in Florida will increase from $7.31 per hour to $7.67 per
hour effective January 1, 2012. The minimum wage for tipped employees
will also increase on January 1, 2012 to $4.65 per hour.
A
voter-approved constitutional amendment established a Florida minimum
wage and provided for an annual adjustment to reflect increases in
consumer prices (inflation). The annual calculation is based on the
percentage increase in the federal Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage
Earners and Clerical Workers in the South Region for the 12-month period
prior to September 1, 2011.
This the second announcement of an increase for Florida’s minimum wage in 2011.
Employers especially need to take notice of the increase since there has been a rise in unpaid wages cases in Florida courts. Failure to pay minimum wage could result in an employer paying the unpaid wages, interest, liquidated damages (if applicable) attorney’s fees and cost if an employee has to take court action for the violation.